THE JUVENILE CRITICS. IXT is PIECE. TZTha-tn, ..St. The Philanthropic Manufacturer. fltyc 74, JV.'W ,*,j I, JOm. 5" O THE Christmas; OR, THfc JUVENILE CRITICS. BY SARAH WHEATLEY, AUTHOR OF "THE FRIENDLY ADVISER," LONDON FRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME, HATERNOSTER-ROW; AND J. HARRIS, CORNER OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD. 180(5. J. Swan, 76, Fleet Street. CONTENTS. Preface An English country Gentleman and Family Their Characters. Christmas Week. Ghost Stories not amusing. Servants, how to be treated. Plan and Subject of the Work pro posed. FRATERNAL AITECTION. An- cient Examples CATO -Scipio SONS of CUCHO ANTIOCHUS. Modern Examples DE WITTS Mrs. B. YOUNG PORTUGUESE Their particular and relative Merits dis cussed 1 FILIAL AFFECTION. Ancient Examples SON of QUINTUS CICERO METELLUS SERVILIA TITUS MANLIUS. Modern Ex amples YOUNG SAILOR SWEDISH CAP TIVE COUNTESS DE VILLBLUME Their particular and relative Merits discussed 38 A3 I16956 VI CONTENTS. Page HUMANITY. Areopagi. Ancient Examples ACASES Q. C.METELLUS- ANTIGONUS. Modern Examples SIR PHILIP SIDNEY ALFRED Mr. DALE CATHARINE VAS- SENT Their particular and relative Merits discussed 63 FRIENDSHIP. Ancient Examples LUCILIUS FRIENDS of C. GRACCHUS ARETJEUS. Modern Examples FRENCH NOBLEMAN RODERICK MACKENZIE HUBERT DE ST. CLARE LORD STANHOPE Their particular and relative Merits discussed 87 JUSTICE. Ancient Examples ATHENIAN PEOPLE ROMAN SENATE CAMBYSES BRUTUS. Modern Examples SIR THOMAS MORESIR WILLIAM GASCOIGNEKHALIL PACHA. The envious Athenian. Shocking Custom of hanging Criminals in Chains. Par ticular and relative Merits of the Examples discussed 1 0/ TEMPERANCE. Ancient Examples ALEX ANDER CYKUS AGESILAUS SOCRATES Cause of the Plague in Turkey. Modern ExamplesSuLLY CHARLES XII, of SWE- CONTENTS. Vll Page DEN LEWIS CORNARO. Socrates's Defini tion of Temperance. Catholic Legend. In temperance in Women punished at Athens and Rome. The Spartans early taught to ab hor Wine how. Particular and relative Me rits of the Examples discussed 128 RELIGION. No Enemy to cheerfulness na tural to Man. Ancient Examples AGESI- LAUS TlMOLEON SlMONIDES C. FA- BIUS DORSO. Modern Examples ADDISON Louis XIV. GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS Their particular and relative Merits discussed 150 HONOUR. Ancient Examples PHOCION DEMETRIUS POLIOHCETES TITUS PULFIO and Lucius VARENUS CAMILLUS. Modern Examples SPANISH GOVERNOR MOORISH GENTLEMAN Hospitality the Virtue of the East Eating together a Pledge of Friendship CUDJOE. The particular and relative Me rits of the Examples discussed. Conclusion. 16? PREFACE. VIRTUE, the more intimately she is known, will be the more admired; and to trace her actions to their source may lead us, in the end, to emulate them. "It is impossible," says an elegant adage, "to pass through the aromatic groves of Arabia, without bearing away some of their sweets and fragrance." Example has always been said to make a deeper impression on the mind than precept; and to search into the motives and merits of those celebrated actions, which are held out as examples and compare their relative excellence, may serve to fix the impression still deeper. Young people, PREFACE. therefore, cannot too soon be taught to make such examinations and comparisons: for, while it must necessarily tend to strengthen and confirm their moral prin ciples, it will cultivate their minds, and quicken and invigorate their understand^ ing. With this view the following little work was undertaken: its plan is more particularly explained in the introductory conversation. For obvious reasons, his torical or well-authenticated facts have i been selected for the present occasion, in preference to imaginary descriptions of moral excellence. If it shall be objected, that many great characters, which have, for ages, been considered as illustrious models of virtue, XI are, in this work, treated with too little respect, and their merits too lightly ap preciated, the author begs to be under stood, that whatever she has said, has been only for the sake of argument; and that no one can entertain a higher opinion of these characters than herself; but, in drawing a comparison between different competitors, it was impossible to show the superiority of one, without pointing out, at the same time, in what the others were inferior. The parallel between the ancients and the moderns forms only a subordinate part of the plan of the work. On a ques tion, so long agitated by men distinguish ed for their talents and learning, it would have been the extreme of presumption in XII PREFACE. her to attempt to decide. She has not the vanity to suppose, the question at all affected by the instances in which she has assigned the superiority to the moderns; she only hopes, that her reasons for this preference will not be found to be alto gether without ground, or sophistical. Brompton, Dec. 1805. THE CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. AT HOLLY HALL, in the county of Devon, the family of Arborfield had resided for several centuries; and had always been remarkable for maintaining the true English character of integrity, benevolence, and hospitality. These good qualities produced the natural conse quences, in a place where the innate goodness of the human heart had not been exposed, as in great cities, to the allurements of luxury, or the contagion of vice: and Sir Hubert Ar borfield, taking possession of the estate upon the death of his father, found that, together with it, he inherited the esteem and love of all around him. Nor was he of a disposition to consider this the least valuable part of his inheritance, nor inclined to part with it to improve the other. He was the patron of the B CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. industrious, and the father of the distressed; and his mind was as richly stored with ac complishments as his heart with virtues. While young, he was much attached to the daughter of a neighbouring gentleman; and finding, on a long acquaintance, every reason to consider his attachment well founded, he married her. This union, which was attended with more happiness than usually falls to the lot of humanity, was blessed with a lovely offspring, two sons and a daughter; who pro mised to unite, with the graces of the mother, the excellent qualities of the father. To con firm their natural good dispositions, and un fold their youthful talents, was the chief care and delight of Sir Hubert and his amiable lady. Their instructions, imparted with ten derness, were received with affectionate re spect; and, by a happy mode of blending amusement with study, they enlightened the minds of their children without fatiguing them. At a proper age the sons were sent to Winchester college; while their sister, remain ing under the immediate care of her parents, received, at home, instructions in the polite branches of education, from the best masters the neighbourhood afforded. Their Christ mas holidays were always passed at Holly Hall, CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 3 at which time their cousins, Jane and Charles Woodley, usually spent a week with them. It is during one of these festive seasons, when George, the eldest son of Sir Hubert, had reached his fourteenth year, that we propose to introduce this family party to the acquaint ance of our young readers. It may not be amiss, however, first to give some idea of their different characters. With great quickness of parts, George possessed, at the same time, a solidity of judg ment; and, w r ith much mildness and genero- siry, a firmness and prudence not often united. He had, therefore, at school many friends, and no enemies. His brother Edmund, who was two years younger, had an imagination still more lively, but his judgment was not so cor rect. His disposition partook of the character of his mind: he was high-spirited, generous, brave; but all this was carried to excess; and if it made him more beloved by some than his brother, it also made him less esteemed by others, whose esteem was of more value. Emily Arborfield, who was a year older than Edmund, more resembled George in character, and was beloved equally by them both. Their cousins were of dispositions not less amiable. Charles possessed much good sense. 4 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. and considerable abilities. His memory was strong, and easily retained what he read or heard. His father died while he was very young; and, in consequence, he became the sole possessor of a very large estate. This might have been the cause of his future mi sery, instead of happiness, had it not been for the attention of his uncle, Sir Hubert, who took care to have him properly educated, and to remove from him all persons who, to ingra tiate themselves, might have flattered him by imprudent indulgencies. Still, however, there were some little foibles in his character, the almost necessary consequence of his situation. His sister Jane was, like him, good tempered, sensible, and accomplished. She was ex tremely fond of her studies, and loved best to pursue them in company with her cousin Emily; but she was diffident of herself, and particularly reserved in the presence of her uncle, whom she looked up to with a degree of respect bordering upon awe. They all loved each other dearly, and thought no time so agreeable as that which they passed together. Such was the party assembled at Holly Hall in the Christmas week. Their spirits were enlivened by the festivities of the season, and the happiness which they saw painted on CHRISTMAS FIRE-9IDE. 6 the countenances of all around them; for Sir Hubert kept up the good old English custom, of distributing food and raiment to those who were in need of them, that all might wear the smile of content at a time which, for ages, has been dedicated, by good Christians, to in nocent mirth and festivity. On these occasions the young people always acted as Sir Hubert's almoners; and the pleasure, which they evi dently felt in dispensing these favours, and the kindness and tenderness of the manner in which they conferred them, gave their worthy parents as much happiness as they bestowed. In the evening, when the party met round the social fire, after the usual sports, Charles Woodley proposed that they should each tell a story, and, if they pleased, he would begin. " I will tell you," said he, " such a terrible story about a ghost, that you will be afraid to look round you; I am sure I am very perfect in it, for my servant James told it me the other day, and I have never gone to bed since without thinking of it." "I do not wish, my dear Charles," said Sir Hubert, " to interfere in your amusements, though, I confess, I do not think there is much amusement in being so terribly fright ened as you say we shall be; and though B3 6r- CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. James is, I believe and hope, a very good and very honest servant, he is not, perhaps, the fittest person in the world to afford us either entertainment or instruction. At all events, in the present instance, the subject of his conversation does not seem to have been very rational: I think we can employ our time to more advantage than in talking about ghosts. I do not wish to mortify your feelings, my dear Charles, but I would not have you con- Terse with your servants, except on the busi ness for which you employ them. Always speak to them with kindness, and treat them with humanity ; but, as their education has not fitted them for that rank in_society which you ought to hold, do not you, of your own accord, reduce yourself to their level; it will neither make them happy, nor you respect able. I like your proposal of each telling a story very well ; and, if you will allow me to suggest a hint or two, it may amuse and in- truct us at the same time. I hope you all recollect the interesting stories you meet with in the books, which you read at school. You find there many examples of generosity, hu manity, and other virtues, which, I trust, made a deep impression on your memory, and have excited in you a desire to emulate them. CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 7 Suppose then, I fix upon some moral excellence, for the subject of our conversation to night: you shall illustrate it by those great examples, which you can recollect from the ancient au thors; we will then examine the merits of each instance which you adduce, and decide to which of them most praise is due." The young friends expressed themselves much pleased with the proposal, and Lady Arborfield suggested, as an improvement, that the young ladies should, on their parts, give anecdotes of the same description from mo dern history; from whence they might judge of the truth of the assertion, that the ancients were so much more inclined to the practice of virtue than the moderns. . " An excellent idea, indeed!" cried Sir Hubert: "well, then, you shall be the cham pions for the moderns, and we for the ancients; and I trust we shall have the victory; for our cause, I believe, is best, and we have the ad vantage of numbers." '' " That would be unfair, my dear father," cried George, " particularly as we dispute with ladies; so, if you please, I will not confine myself to either party, but attach myself al ternately to that, whose cause I shall think to be most just." 8 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. " O, brave!" exclaimed Sir Hubert, " you combat securely, George; if you support that cause which is most just, you will not easily be beaten." " But, I may be mistaken in my opinion," replied George, " and take the wrong side." " Well, we will soon try the correctness of your judgment," said Sir Hubert; " suppose then, for this evening, we take the subject of fraternal affection. I know you all love each other dearly, ajid, therefore, will be pleased with instances of the same affection in others." The young party looked at each other with a smile sweetly affectionate, which seem ed to say, " We do love each other dearly," and all were delighted with the subject pro posed. " Who shall begin?" said Lady Arborfield. "By the laws of courtesy," replied Sir Hubert, " we ought to yield the precedence to you ; but we must not sacrifice right to politeness, and the ancients have, undoubtedly, a claim to priority; George, perhaps, has not deter mined which side he will espouse, and Charles or Edmund, therefore, must begin." After a short conversation between the two young friends, Edmund entered upon the subject proposed, with the following story. CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. *' The great Cato, who killed himself at Utica, because he would not survive the liberty of his country, had a brother called Csepio. Being asked, when he was a child, whom he loved best, he replied, ' My dear brother.' He was then asked, who he loved next best, and he made the same answer; and, being desired to say who was the third person in the world that he preferred to all others: he still replied, 4 My dear brother.' As he grew older, he still grew fonder, if possible, of Caepio; and he would neither sup, nor appear in the forum, nor go upon any journey without him. When Caepio was employed as a military tribune, in some expedition, Cato immediately entered himself a volunteer in the same legion, that he might share his toils, and fight by his side against the enemy. Some time afterwards, (I do not remember how it happened,) they were separated: and Cato was told that his poor brother was taken ill at some town in Thrace. I cannot tell how sorry he was when he heard it. He resolved to fly to his brother instantly; but he was obliged to cross the sea, to go to him. It was a terrible storm, and no ship would venture out. At last, however, he got an open boat, and, attended only by two friends and three faithful slaves, he bravely 10 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. quitted the shore. The wind blew, and the waves rolled terribly; and they thought every moment that the little boat would be swal lowed up. But they were going upon a kind, errand, and the sea and the tempest spared them; and they reached the shore in safety. The moment Cato landed, he was told that his brother was dead. He could not speak for some time; and though Cato was a Stoic, (and they say Stoics boasted of the hardness of their hearts,) he cried as much as much as I should, if any misfortune were to happen to any of you. When his sorrow grew a little calmer, he celebrated his funeral as splendid ly as possible, in the Roman manner, and erected a beautiful monument, called a Ce notaph, to his memory. As he was going to sail, on his return to Italy, some friends ad vised him to transport his brother's remains in another vessel, thinking, perhaps, that the sight of them only served to keep his grief alive; but he told them, that he would sooner part with his life." " You have made a good beginning, my dear Edmund," said Sir Hubert, " and now, Charles, we will trouble you." CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 11 Charles reflected a short time, and thus began ; " The story I mean to tell, is of two other Romans, the celebrated Scipios. "During a war in Asia, with King Antio- chus, that province fell to the lot of Lucius Scipio. The Roman senate, who did not think well either of his courage or understanding, wished to give the person who was his colleague in office, the command of the army instead of him. As soon as this was proposed in the senate, the famous Scipio A.fricanus, who was the elder brother of Lucius, rose up from his seat in great agitation. He assured them, that his brother was a man of more spirit and greater abilities, than they seemed to think; and, to convince them that he thought so, he promised, notwithstanding his age, and the many victories which he had won, and which exempted him from further service, that he would himself attend Lucius into Asia, and serve under him as his lieutenant. The senate were satisfied with this, and Lucius was suf fered to take the command: and, by the assist^ ance of his brother, who went with him, as he had promised, he ended the war in such a glorious manner, that he was honoured with a 12 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. public triumph, and received the name of Asiaticus." } " These Romans were noble fellows, in deed," said Lady Arborfield, when Charles had finished his story; " and a few more such anecdotes as these, would make us believe that they were as virtuous as they were brave. And now, George, which side do you espouse? Are you for the ancients, or cannot you recol lect some story as much in favour of the mo derns, as those, related by your cousin and brother, are to the honour of the Romans." " I remember," replied George, " one in stance of fraternal affection, which I think very remarkable; but, as I hope my dear fa ther will be kind enough to oblige us, in his turn, with a story, he may, perhaps, anticipate me, and then I must think of another." " Oh, it is but fair," said Sir Hubert, " that I should tell my story; but, for fear I should happen to fix on the same that you have thought of, you had better begin." *' No, I thank you," answered George, " we will, if you please, go regularly round the circle: so, as you sit next to Charles, pray oblige us with your story first." " The anecdote I propose to relate," said Sir CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 13 "Hubert, " is not to be found in the classi cal histories of Greece, or of Rome; but is recorded by a people, who lay claim to a higher antiquity than any other nation in the world. " Cucho, an emperor of China, had three sons, and was fonder of the youngest than cither of the others; indeed, he carried this partiality so far, that, when he was dying, he declared him his sole successor; excluding his brother from the crown. Besides the injustice of this to his other sons, it was contrary to the laws of the empire; which no king ought to break through upon any account; much less to gratify any views of private interest. Upon the emperor's decease, therefore, the people de termined to bestow the crown upon the elder brother, who had the legal right to succeed. This design being universally approved, they prepared to put it into execution; but the elder brother, thanking them for their inten tions towards hirhself, rejected the offer; and, taking the crown, immediately placed it upon the head of his younger brother: publicly de claring, that he thought himself unworthy to wear it, since he had been excluded by his father; who could not now revive, and retract c 14 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. -vyhat he had .done. His brother, filled with love and admiration at such an extraordinary act of generosity and filial piety, refused the crown likewise, and earnestly entreated him not to oppose the inclination and request of his faithful people: adding, that he alone was the true heir to the kingdom ; that he derived his right from a power far superior to the will of their deceased father; that their father was guilty of injustice to the whole nation, when he infringed its laws; that he was betrayed into such a step by a fond partiality which he had not deserved; and that, whether he con sented or not, the people had certainly a right to withhold their consent to an act, which tended to destroy the basis of their constitu tion. Arguments, however, were >of no effect: in this strife of love and' generosity, neither could prevail; and the people beheld with as tonishment and admiration two young princes, when neither could persuade the other to be come his sovereign, resign a rich and power ful empire to the second brother, and leave all the splendor of a court, for the pleasure of solitude and fraternal affection." "Well, you did not think of my story, my dear Sir," said George, when Sir Hubert had CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 15 ended, " and now, therefore, if you will give me leave, I will tell it myself." " There was a king, named Antiochus, (I do not recollect where he reigned) who had a brother, to whom he was excessively attached. He was continually doing him all manner of kind offices, and seemed anxious to show him, by all the means in his power, how much he loved him. But Seleucus (that was his bro ther's name) was as bad and ungrateful as the king was good and affectionate. He was too proud to feel gratitude for all the favours that were heaped upon him; and too ambitious to remain contented, while any one had greater power than himself. The riches and power that were lavished on him by his affectionate brother, served him as the means to raise a re bellion against his throne. Antiochus collect ed an army, not so much to defend his own private interests, as to preserve from violation the laws of his kingdom. This army soon met the forces, which Seleucus had seduced into rebellion. The army of the king had jus tice on their side, and fought with enthusiasm; while the rebels, only urged on by despair, were soon defeated; and Seleucus was sup posed to have perished in the action. When 1C CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. Antiochus heard this report, instead of re joicing for the victory obtained, and the re bellion suppressed, he exclaimed, with tears in his eyes, "I have preserved my throne, but I have lost my dear brother!" and immediate ly laying aside his robes, he put on a mourning- habit, ordered the gates of his palace to be shut, and gave himself up entirely to grief. It was, however, soon after discovered, that Se- leucus was still alive, and busily employed in recruiting another army. When the affection ate monarch was informed of this, he was so transported with joy, that he again appeared in public, offered sacrifices to the gods for the happy escape of his brother, and commanded a general festival, on the occasion, to be kept throughout his dominions." /5 " Now, then, we must see," said Lady Ar- borfield, " what instances we can bring of the virtue of modern times, in this respect: and, as it is settled that we must take our turns as we sit, we will thank you, Jane, to begin." "The famous John De Witt, the grand pensionary of Holland," said Jane, after a few moments of recollection, " was as remarkable for his love to his brother Cornelius, as for CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 17 the other eminent qualities that distinguished him. This tender affection, unfortunately, brought him to a tragical end. When his un grateful countrymen sentenced his brother to banishment, he went in his own coach to the prison, where he was confined, to carry him out of the town. The people, forgetting the past services of the De Witts, were now as much their enemies as they had once been their friends ; and were in hopes that Corne lius would have been put to death, instead of being banished. When the prison gate was opened, it was about the middle of the day; John De Witt came out first, and his brother followed him close; but a woman seeing them, cried aloud to the people, many of whom were watching, armed, about the prison. 'Here come the traitors! kill them! kill them!' Then the sentinels of the prison desired the brothers to go back, or they might be fired upon. John De Witt attempted to speak to the people, but they instantly levelled their muskets at him; so that the brothers were obliged to return into the prison. " Cornelius now entreated his brother to leave him, and not risk the danger which was threatened. 'They mean no harm to you,' said he; * it is me alone they hate. Your o 3 18 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. high office will protect you from insult, if you do not irritate them,, by showing them that you still think me worthy of your love. Then, leave me to my fate, my dear brother, I may contrive to escape, unobserved : at all events, let me have the satisfaction to reflect, that I have not hazarded your life, which is so much more dear to me than my own.' No entreaties, however, could prevail upon the aftectionate heart of John De Witt, to desert his unfortu nate brother. At length, the people increa sing in violence, and urged on by some wick ed persons, burst open the prison doors, and rushed into the room where the two brothers were. John was found sitting on the bed, *ipon which his brother was lying in his night gown, reading in a Bible: he asked them what they wanted, and what was the cause of their violence. He was answered that they must go down; he then desired to know what they meant to do to them ; and then they all cried out, ' To kill you! to kill you!' Whilst he was speaking, one of the ruffians dragged Corne lius from the bed; when John saw this, and found that no words could appease the rage of these men, he took his brother by the hand, and went with him down stairs. As soon as he got out of the prison door, he prepared to CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 19 address the soldiers, who were assembled there in arms, but was instantly knocked down : as he rose again, he saw that Cornelius was seized, when, hiding his face in his cloak, that he might not behold the murder of a brother whom he so dearly loved, they were both, al most at the same instant, assaulted by several at once, and inhumanly butchered." " And now," said Lady Arborfield, " as it is my turn, I will relate an anecdote in private life which recently occurred; and which, I confess, I shall feel more pleasure in recount ing, as it will show that the virtue of fraternal affection is not solely confined to men. When we were last in town, in a morning visit I made to an old friend, I met a lady, whose gentle manners and amiable counte nance particularly engaged my regard. On her taking leave, I could not help expressing my admiration, in very warm terms, to the lady I was visiting. She said she w T as happy in having it in her power to tell me an anec dote of Mrs. B , which could not fail to justify the very favourable impression I had already received of her. " Her uncle," proceeded my friend, " had 20 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. amassed a large fortune in the East Indies, and, not being married, he adopted this lady and her brother. The latter, who was a very amiable young man, was treated and consi dered as his future heir, nor was there any doubt of this entertained till within a very short time of the uncle's death. Unfortunate ly Mr. W was of a violent and capricious disposition; and conceiving an unjustifiable resentment against his nephew, for a very trifling and unintentional offence, he made his will, and left the whole of his immense fortune to his niece. There are few people, even of the most generous dispositions, that would have thought of doing more than di viding this bequest with her less-favoured brother; nor could any one have denied her the just praise which such a disinterested pro ceeding would have deserved. But Mrs. B possessed a mind which could not satisfy it self with what she considered a mere act of justice. Though she lamented, equally with her brother, the unfortunate circumstance which had deprived him of the affection of their early benefactor; yet, she rejoiced in the opportunity it gave her of proving the sin cerity of her fraternal affection. She instantly ordered a deed of gift to be drawn, transferring CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. g] the whole of her uncle's property to her bro ther; reserving only to herself a small estate at "Warfield, in Berkshire, which was endeared to her by early habits, where she had passed, to gether with her brother, some of the happiest years of her life. In vain was every attempt that he made to decline this noble gift. ' Do not, my dear brother,' said this charming wo man, * deprive me of the only pleasure my poor uncle's preference has given me. Before his death I possessed a fortune sufficient for my wishes, and if that had not been the case,I could never have enjoyed possessions which, from a Biere mistake, were withheld from another.'" " I wish, my dear mother," said Emily, " that I could recollect some instance of a lady equally generous and affectionate; but, as I cannot, I will relate the only story to the purpose that I can think of at present. " It was, I believe, some time during the reign of our Henry VIII. that a Portuguese ship set sail from Lisbon to Goa, a rich and flourish ing colony belonging to that nation, in the East Indies. There were no less than one hun dred persons on board. They had a prosperous voyage till they had passed the Cape ; but, as 22 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. they directed their course towards the Indian Ocean, they discovered m their charts a large ridge of rocks, which was laid down in the very latitude in which they were then sailing. The captain, therefore, desired the pilot to lie by in the night, and to slacken sail by day, till they should be past the danger; but the pilot, obstinate and unskilful, so far from complying with the captain's request, actually crowded more sail than the vessel had carried before, and, in a few hours, the disaster which had been apprehended befel them. The ship struck upon the ridge of rocks; and it may easily be imagined the scene of horror this dreadful accident must have occasioned amongst such a number of persons, who had now nothing before them but the prospect of instant death. In this distress the captain or dered the boat to be hoisted out, and taking the few provisions he could, at such a crisis, think of, he jumped in first himself, and was followed by nineteen others, who, with their drawn swords, prevented any of the rest of the ship's crew following, lest the boat should be overset. In this condition they put to sea, trusting to that Providence from whom alone they could hope relief. Without a compass to steer by, or a drop of fresh water, they CHniSTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 23 sailed for four days, scarce able to guess their course. At length, the captain, who had been for some time past weak and sickly, sunk ex hausted, and expired before their eyes. To their former miseries was now added the con fusion, which naturally ensued, for want of a commander; every one was desirous to go vern, but none inclined to obey. They were obliged, however, to elect one of the com pany; and it was agreed that they should, for the general good, implicitly follow his orders. They were now reduced to the most dreadful despair; their small stock of provisions, they discovered, would not last them more than three days longer, and it was proposed, by their new captain, to draw lots, and to cast every fourth man overboard. Amongst their small number there was a friar and a carpen ter, both of whom they agreed to exempt; the first from religious motives, and the last that he might repair the boat, in case of a leak, or any other accident. They likewise made the same determination in favour of the captain, he being the odd man, and his life, from his superior knowledge, of much conse quence to them: this indulgence he would have refused, but they overcame his objec tions, and obliged him to acquiesce. There Q4 CHRISTMAS FTRE-SIDE. remained now sixteen, four of whom must, from dreadful necessity, consent to perish for the preservation of the rest. Three submitted to their fate with the greatest resignation, after having prepared themselves for a future state; but the fourth was a Portuguese gen tleman, who had a younger brother with him in the boat. This affectionate young man, on seeing his brother about to be thrown over board, burst into an agony of grief; and em bracing him, entreated that he might die in his stead. ' Oh, my dear brother!' said he * consent to my request, and let me have the satisfaction of dying, to restore a beloved bro ther to his wife and family. If you refuse my request, I swear to you, I will not survive the moment that deprives me of you. Consider then what is to become of that unhappy fa mily. My life/ continued the generous youth, 'is of no importance: I have no tie strong enough to bind me to this world, should you perish; but think of the misery that must en sue to that affectionate wife and those dear children, should you deprive them of their natural protector by. a mistaken tenderness for me.' -The elder brother resisted his en,- treaties with all the arguments which affec tion could devise; but he was deaf to his CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 25 remonstrances, and persisted in his determi nation of sacrificing himself in the stead of his brother; who, at length, after a severe strug gle with his feelings, yielded to the affecting picture the exemplary youth drew of the dis tress his family would be involved in, should he refuse his request. The poor fellow was then thrown overboard: he was a good swim mer, however, and endeavoured to keep him self afloat by seizing the rudder. This being perceived by one of the sailors, he immedi ately cut off his right hand with his sword; the youth sunk for a moment, but, rising again, he caught the rudder with the other hand; that received the same fate. He was now de prived of both his hand*, but, still feeling a desire for life, he endeavoured to excite the compassion of the company, by holding up to their view his poor bleeding arms. This had the effect desired; his affecting situation, added to his noble sacrifice of himself, determined them in his favour. * He is but one man,' said they; 'let us endeavour to save him.' He was immediately taken into the boat, his wrists bound up, and all the care taken of him that the circumstances would permit. Their humanity met with the reward it deserved: at sun-rise, to the inexpressible joy of this little D gtf CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. crew, they discovered land, which proved to be the mountains of Mozambique, in Africa, and not far distant from a Portuguese colony. There they all arrived in safety, and conti nued till the next ship that arrived from Lis bon carried them to Goa." .,- \ "And now, then," said Sir Hubert, " to de cide which of these instances is most entitled o our admiration. We will take them in the order in which they were told. You will, I sup pose, Edmund, defend the hero of your tale." "Yes," replied Edmund quickly; "for though Cato had not the same opportunity of showing his love for his brother as the others had, I dare say he would have done as much for him as any of them, if he had been put to the proof." "But, my dear brother," said George, "we are to decide upon the facts as they are rela ted, and not take into consideration what might have happened in other circumstances." " But," retorted Edmund, " Cato loved no one in the world but Caepio; and he risked his life, that he might be near him, to be kind and attentive to him while he was sick." " That does not pro^e," said Charles, "that his Ipve for his brother was greater CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 7 than the attachment of his friends, who went with him. So, perhaps, the danger was not so great as it is said to have been." "Besides," added Emily, "Cato did not set jnuch value upon his life, since he put an end to it himself." ^ " That was," replied George, " because he would not live a slave, and see good men op pressed by the wicked and tyrannous, without being able to help them." " You must not suffer your admiration of the Romans, my dear boys," said Lady Ar- borfield, " to lead your judgment astray in this respect. Suicide is never justifiable. Cato- was a brave and a good man; but this act, which is generally considered the greatest proof of his magnanimity, appears to me the greatest instance of his weakness. It seems to have been the effect of despair, rather than of resolution. The only thing that can be said in his favour is, that, as he lived in ages of heathenism, he did not know that it was a crime which he committed." " Your hero, Edmund," said Sir Hubert, " does not seem likely to bear away the palm of excellence in this contest of affection. He was, however, undoubtedly a most worthy man and most loving brother; and perhaps, as you 28 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. say, only wanted an opportunity to give as striking a proof of his affections as any of those that have been mentioned." Edmund looked rather disconcerted, and seemed unwilling to give up the point, when Charles observed, that he thought the conduct of Scipio much more entitled to admiration. " Scipio," said he, "was an old man; he had obtained the highest honours his country could bestow; nothing could add to his fame; and, to a man like him, honour was much dearer than life. And yet he risked this ho nour, and his life too, that his brother might not be disgraced." "But he felt," said Edmund, "that he and his whole family were concerned in the slight intended to be thrown upon his brother; and, therefore, it was as much upon his own ac count as his brother's that he opposed the in tention of the senate; and he went with him to the war, lest he should commit some mis take, and so prove that the senate were right in their opinion." "Shrewdly observed, Edmund," said Sir Hubert; "I perceive you are determined, if you cannot obtain the palm for your own hero, that no other shall acquire it easily. In the instance 1 repeated to you, can you disco- Cl RISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 29 ver any circumstance which does not appear to arise exclusively from fraternal affection?" '* No!" exclaimed Edmund. " No! A throne is so great a thing. All people are so fond of ruling. There's Mr. Melville's old gardener seems to take more pleasure in or dering his men about, than in all the flowers in the garden. And do not you remember, George, at Winchester, the Serjeant we saw drilling the men, as we went last fifth of No vember to St. Catharine's Hill, how proud he seemed of his place : I am sure he caned some poor fellows, who did their exercise very well, only to show his authority. But it is not only men that are fond of ruling: for there is the old cock in our poultry-yard that will not let any other fowl there peck a grain of barley, or scratch up a, worm, but when he pleases, and where he pleases. The only thing is, my dear Sir, I do not know which of your king Cucho's sons to admire most." " Oh!" cried Jane, who had not yet taken a part in the dispute, " I should think the eldest brother is most to be praised, because, as my uncle says, he had both the law and the people on his side, and, therefore, it was he alone that had the crown to give." " Your observation is extremely just, my D 3 SO CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. love," said Sir Hubert; "and I am glad to find that you think so correctly. But the merit of the younger brother is not less in another point of view. He was, by the will of his fa ther, in the actual possession of the throne; and a person in that situation, whatever his right may be, will always find people ready to maintain him in it." " Still, I cannot but think," said George, " that the elder brother deserves our admira tion most; because the conduct of the younger was only a consequence of his example. Had he not done so, what respect could he have hoped for from his subjects, after showing himself so much inferior in generosity to the man whom they wished to be their king? It seems too, that both these brothers were good men, and worthy of each other: nor is it said, that the partiality of the father had caused any enmity between them. But, in the ex ample which I brought forward, Antiochus had heaped favours upon his brother, and, in return, had received nothing but ingratitude; and he wept when he believed him killed, though it was in an attempt against his own life; and rejoiced when he found he was still living, though at the same time he knew he was plotting both against his life and throne. CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 31 So much better did he love this ungrateful brother than himself." " You plead your cause well, George," said Sir Hubert; "and this is certainly an ex tremely strong instance of the force of bro therly love. But, though an amiable man, I am afraid Antiochus was rather a weak one; at all events, he carried his love to his brother to an excess not consistent with the duty he owed to his subjects. As a brother, he might feel happy that his Seleucus had escaped with his life; but, as he was again stirring up re bellion, in which the lives and happiness of thousands of his innocent subjects might be destroyed, it was an insult to them to bid them rejoice for what they must have consi dered as their greatest misfortune." , "I am afraid," said Jane, "I shall not be able to say as much in favour of my hero as you have of yours; and then John De Witt will not rank so high as he ought to do, be cause I am unable to place his merit in the best light." " You are quite a rhetorician, Jane," said Sir Hubert, interrupting her. " It is one of the arts which orators employ, to pretend to in ability and want of eloquence, at the very time when they are producing their strongest 32 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. arguments, clothed m the most beautiful lan guage." " Is -not that speech of Antony's over the dead body of Julius Caesar, written by Shake- spear, one of this sort of masked batteries?" enquired Edmund. "It is," replied Sir Hubert; "and one of the most beautiful and elegant of the kind: I am glad to find you remember it. But why do you call them masked batteries?" " Because, in masked batteries, you are at tacked from a quarter where you did not ex pect any harm, and, being unprepared for it, are often conquered. And is not this trick of orators something like it? " Your metaphor is not quite correct," re plied Sir Hubert, "but it is ingenious; and I am happy to see that you reflect on what you read. I was not aware that you knew so much about the art of war: but now let us hear what orator Jane has to say for her grand pensionary." "p^ " Oh, now you are laughing at me, my dear uncle," said Jane, smiling; but you will all allow that life is the dearest thing we have, and the last we are willing to part with; and yet John De Witt lost his for the sake of his brother." CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 33 " Not exactly so," said Charles; " because when he went to the prison it was noon day, and that was not a time he would have chosen to attempt to carry him out of the town, if he had thought that the citizens had any de signs against his life." " But he found that they had," answered George, " when they were obliged to return into the prison on account of the threats of the people; and, therefore, if he had not been determined to hazard all events for the sake of his brother, he might have left him then." "But perhaps he thought," replied Charles, " that whatever their designs were against his brother, they had none against himself; and he might suppose too, as he was still in office, that they would pay too much respect to his authority to offer him any insult." "No: that is taking away all merit from him at once," said Edmund, "and does not seem to be very likely neither; because, when they came out of the prison, the people threat ened him as well as his brother, and would not listen to him, though he attempted to speak to them several times." " You are very gallant, my dear boys," said Lady Arborfield, " to espouse thus the young- lady's cause. But I do not think it is an easy 34 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. question to decide; in all cases, however, where two opinions can be formed, we should always take that which is most favourable to the person, who is the subject of them. I will leave you to discuss the merits of the anec dote, which I repeated to you, though, I con fess, I do not think it approaches to a level with several of those, which we have already considered." "I am glad you say so yourself, mamma," said Emily; "for though it was a generous action in Mrs. B to give so large a for tune to her brother, it was what she did not want, and what she considered he had ajuster claim to than herself." "Oh, money!" cried Edmund, "I should not think a person generous because he gave a great deal of money; and, I am sure, I should love any one better, who would be sorry when I was unhappy, than any other, who should give me as much as the great diamond was worth, that Mr. Pitt's great grandfather sold to the king of France." " You must not speak too lightly of money neither," said Sir Hubert. " You are not yet capable of judging of its value; and though it may be pleasant to have a friend to sympa thize with you in distress, yet if you and your CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 3J of being dashed CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 4<) to pieces against the rocks; or, if they escaped this termination of their miseries, the scarcely less melancholy one of perishing with hunger, awaited them. The only hope that remained was, that the storm might abate, and some boat might appear in sight, in time to save them. Among them was a youth, who, in ad dition to his own misfortunes, had the torture of seeing an aged father perishing with cold and fatigue before his eyes. Worked up to the greatest pitch of agony, at the sufferings of a beloved parent, he conceived the despe rate resolution of instantly attempting to pro cure him relief, though he was sure that it was next to impossible, that he should not perish in the attempt. The whole crew, even in their own deplorable state, trembled at the almost certain fate of this affectionate youth, and entreated him, with tears, to desist from his enterprize, and wait the chance of assist ance from any boat that might pass. The af flicted parent, feeble as he was, clasped the knees of his child, and implored him not to risk his own life, by an attempt to save his, in which there was more danger, than prospect of success. ' While there is the least prospect of saving your precious life,' cried the generous youth, * can you think, my dear father, that any fear F 50 CHRISTMAS FlKE-SIDli. for my own, can prevent me from attempting it? No: I will die, or save you.' At these words, he strained the weeping old man to his breast, and then prepared for his enterprize. The terrors of a tempestuous sea, foam ing and beating against the rocks, which were almost perpendicular, did not dismay him. He de sired to he let down into the raging waves, which they effected by some small lines, that they had with them. It was wonderful he was not instantly dashed to pieces; but the hand of Providence guided the waves, which bore him round a point of the cliff, to a low place on the shore, more than a quarter of a mile distant from the fatal rock. He immediately hastened to collect people, whom he led to the cliff, which overhung the place where the ship-wrecked crew were expecting that death, which had long seemed inevitable; for they had not had the satisfaction of seeing that the brave youth had succeeded in his attempt to reach the shore. They were all drawn up by ropes, by the people above; and, in returning thanks to Heaven for their miraculous escape, they did not forget to pray for every blessing on the youth, whose high sense of filial duty had enabled him to conquer, what had to them appeared insurmountable difficulties, CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 51 to rescue his aged parent from an untimely death." " What a dreadful state," said Emily, '* must the poor old man have been in, whilst his son was seeking relief for him. I do not know which I was most alarmed for, whilst you were telling that part of the story; for, I am sure the agitation of the father must have been attended with as much hazard to his life, as his son encountered from the rocks and tempestuous waves." " Indeed, my dear child," said Sir Hubert, " I am perfectly of your opinion in this re spect; but, when the danger was over, how must the father have gloried in this brave and affectionate boy, and how justly was his gal lant conduct rewarded by the success of his enterprize! My dear children, ever remember that, the obligations of a child to a parent cease but with existence: and, that nothing will afford you more satisfaction in the decline of life, than the recollection of never having been deficient in this, the most important duty of it." The glistening eyes of the young party, convinced Sir Hubert that the lesson was not lost; and, when he had given a few minutes 62 CHRISTMAS TIRE-SIDE. to .their feelings, he called on Jane for her contribution to the evening's entertainment. She obeyed him, by recounting the following interesting anecdote.: *' As some Christian captives at Algiers, who had been ransomed., were going to be dis charged, the cruisers brought in a Swedish vessel, among the crew of which was the fa ther of one of those ransomed captives. The son made himself known to the old man; but their mutual distress, at meeting in such a place, may well be conceived. The young man, however, reflecting, that the slavery his father was about to undergo, would inevitably put an end to his life, requested that he might be released, and himself detained in his room; which was immediately granted: but, when the story was told to the governor, he was so. affected with it, that he caused the son like wise to be discharged, as the reward of his filial and exemplary tenderness." " I hope you will not think that I am judging the question before-hand;" said Emily, " when I declare, that, of all the models of filial affection, I have ever read or heard of, the Countess de Villelume bolds the most honour- CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 53 able place. She is, I believe, still living, and is now about eight anrf thirty years old. You have often repeated her story, my dear mam ma; and I wonder you did not chuse it for the present occasion yourself. But I do not be lieve that either my brothers or cousins have heard it; and I will tell it, therefore, for I love to repeat her name." " The Countess de Villelume is the daugh ter of General de Sombreuil, who, in the be ginning of the French revolution, was gover nor of the Invalids at Paris. In this post he showed so much attachment to his king, and such strict attention to his duty, and his man ners were altogether so amiable, and his cha racter so worthy, that, for some time, even the enemies of the king treated him with re spect. But when the furious rebels had got into complete possession of all authority, they seemed to delight in every sort of cruelty and wickedness; and they dragged the poor gene ral, who was seventy-two years old, out of his house, and shut him up in the prison of the Abbey. This was on a Sunday, while his daughter was at church. On her return, hear ing what had happened, she immediately flew to the Abbey, but was refused admittance. She, F 3 64 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. therefore, wrote a petition to the people ia power, entreating them to confine her with her father. At the top of this petition the fe rocious Marat wrote, ' Confine this aristocra- tical fanatic with her aristocratical father. With this permission in her hand, she again presented herself before the gates of the Abbey, which were opened to her; in an in stant she was in the arms of her dear father. With him she passed her whole time: her days and her nights were spent in serving and consoling him. " On the terrible second of September, when the general massacre of prisoners began, Mademoiselle de Sombreuil had been con fined eight days. After many of these un fortunate victims had been butchered, and the sight of blood, flowing in torrents, only served to inflame the rage of the murderers; while the wretched inhabitants of the prison endeavoured to hide themselves from impend ing slaughter, this filial heroine rushed into the presence of the assassins, who had already seized General de Sombreuil: ' Monsters'.' cried she, 'hold your hands! he is my fa ther.' She threw herself at their feet, bathed in human gore, and laid hold of their hands, yet reeking with blood. At one moment she CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 53 stopped the sword lifted against her father, and offered herself to its relentless point, ex claiming, * Strike, barbarians! you cannot reach my father but through my heart. My body shall cover him: I disdain unworthy supplications; I desire, I demand only to die with him.' In this glorious struggle she re ceived five wounds. " So much courage and filial affection, in a young and beautiful girl, for a moment ar rested the attention of the assassins. She perceived that they hesitated, and she endea voured to increase the impression she had made. But while she was thus trembling be tween hope and fear, one of the monsters, Oh, I shall never forget his name! Van Damme proposed the following condition for saving the general's life: 'Drink? said the horrid wretch, * a glass of human blood and save your futlier? The heroic girl shuddered, trembled, and retreated some paces; but she forgot terror, disgust, every thing upon earth but her father, and yielded to the dreadful condition. ' Innocent or guilty then,' ex claimed one of those who acted as judges, ' it is unworthy of a great and generous na* tion, and a humane people, to bathe their hands in the blood of the old man, since they 56 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. must first destroy this virtuous girl.' A ge neral cry of pardon was heard. The daughter, revived by this signal of safety, threw herself into her father's trembling arms, who had scarcely power to press her to his bosom; and even the most outrageous of the assassins were unable to restrain their tears. Her de parture from this place of horrors was a tri umphal procession; she beheld the hands, dyed with the gore of a thousand viciims, that a moment before were ready to be steeped in her own and her clear father's blood, now opening a passage for them through a fero cious crowd, panting for carnage; and she heard these words repeated from every side: ' Let old age and beauty be respected by all.'" "I am really inclined to think," said Sir Hubert, " that the moderns will prove victo rious again to-night; but we must not resign the palm without a struggle. I believe, how ever, the contest will chiefly rest between young Cicero and the Countess de Villelume; but I must not prejudge the question. Who will undertake the cause of young Cicero?" " I do not think he needs any one to un dertake his cause, my dear Sir," replied Ed- CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 57 mund; " his merits are conspicuous enough, from the story which you were so good as to repeat to us, and do not stand in need of any observations to make them appear greater. What could be more noble, or more disinte rested, than his patiently suffering such hor rid tortures to save the life of his father? Metellus certainly showed great filial affec tion; but how could he well do otherwise than he did? Could he sit in judgment and doom his father to death? The manner in which he conducted himself on the occasion, and his appeal to Caesar, were very affecting no doubt; and his offer to die with his father proved that he was sincere. But I will not, because I told the story, attempt to rank him above those, who, I feel, are entitled to greater approbation." " That is a generous sentiment, my dear boy," said Lady Arborfield; "and does you more credit than you would have gained by your ingenuity, in supporting a weak argu ment against the conviction of your judgment. But will our friend Charles, to whom we must confess ourselves obliged for exerting his memory in favour of our sex, as readily give up the pretensions of his heroine?" " Yes," replied Charles, " I am very ready 58 CHRISTMAS FIREHSIDE. to follow the example of my cousin. We ar pleased with Servilia, and we love her for her -simplicity and tenderness; but there is no thing in her conduct so much to excite our admiration as our pity." " You are very generous," replied George, " but you do not support the character of ad vocates: but, I confess, I am too partial to my hero to desert him so readily. I think young Titus Manlius deserves, at least, to have his merits placed in as striking a point of view as my abilities will enable me to do." "Oh, George!" cried Edmund, " I see what you mean to do; you are going to show us that you can make, as Milton says, ' The worse appear the better reason;' and you want to puzzle us to find arguments to refute your ingenious sophistry. But you will not persuade us, with all your ingenuity, that you are sincere in your defence, because we know that you are Mr. Infallible." George smiled at this sally of his bro ther's, and. replied, "If you do not think I t-an support his superiority with justice, Jet us argue in another way, and hear what are your objections." " Why that is rather an ungracious office," answered Edmund. " As I said before, I CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. O poor people; a service of the greatest import ance in Scotland, where, in consequence of a great number of farms being thrown into one, and all converted into sheep-walks, the poor people have lost all means of supporting themselves by labour; and are therefore obli ged, by thousands, to leave their country, or starve. But the good are often afflicted with calamity. In one night, by some accident, the manufactory took fire, and the whole of the building, with all its complicated ma chinery and expensive apparatus, was reduced to ashes. " The next morning a crowd of young people assembled round the smoking. twins: when they beheld the destruction of all they depended on for support, and thought on the miserable condition to which they were re duced, their hearts were too full to speak, but they suddenly, one and all, burst into tears. " The worthy master of these weeping children beheld their grief with pity: regard less of his own immense loss, and anxious only to sooth their sorrows, he thus address ed them: 'My good children, do not cry; your situation is better than it was before; for, till the manufactory is rebuilt, you will have nothing to do but play, and shall still 76 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. receive the same wages.' And this generous promise was followed by actual performance." "How generous! how humane!" exclaim ed the whole party. "You talk of going to the Lakes next summer, my dear papa," said Edmund, " pray do let us go on to Glasgow, when we are there; I should so love to see this good Mr. Dale." " Your generous enthusiasm shall certain ly be indulged," replied the worthy baronet, taking the spirited boy affectionately by the hand; " and, I confess, I shall myself receive much gratification in becoming acquainted with this worthy philanthropist; at the same time, we shall all be amused as well as in structed, by inspecting the ingenious ma chinery by which so many children are en abled to obtain their own livelihood. You side with the moderns," continued he, turn ing to George; "I conclude you have strong reasons for deserting us. What illustrious hero, or heroine, is to be the subject of your panegyric?" " A heroine illustrious only by her virtue," answered George ; " a poor servant girl of the city of Noyon, in France." CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 77 " A common sewer, of considerable depth, had been opened at Noyon, for the purpose of repair; four men passing by, late in the evening, unfortunately fell in, no precautions having been taken to prevent so probable an accident. " It was midnight before their situation was known; and, of course, at such an hour it was not easy to procure assistance. How ever, at length some few people were collected together; but every person who came was afraid to attempt the rescue of the poor men, for fear of sharing their fate. Thus they would have been left to perish, had it not been for the benevolent intrepidity of Catha rine Vassent, a poor servant girl, not more than seventeen years old. Fearless of danger, and melted by the tears and cries of their wives and children, she pressed through the crowd; and, having fastened a cord round her body, she desired to be let down into the frightful chasm. When she reached the bot tom, she found the poor men almost suffo cated; she instantly fixed the cord securely round two of them, and they were drawn up* by those above, and happily restored to life. While thus nobly employed, her breath began to failj and she had scarcely fastened tha. u3 78 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. cord to the body of a third man, when she found herself on the point of fainting; she had, however, presence of mind sufficient to fix the rope firmly to her own hair, which hung in long and luxuriant tresses. "The people above, though they felt no inclination to imitate her humane heroism, willingly contributed such assistance as they could afford, with safety to themselves; and, on pulling up what they supposed to be the bodies of the other men, they saw, with sur prise and concern, the generous Catharine suspended by her hair, swinging on the same cord, apparently lifeless. Fresh air, with proper remedies, soon restored this heroic girl; and she had the fortitude to descend again into the pestilential opening, in the hopes of saving the unfortunate man who re mained; but, in consequence of the delay produced by her indisposition, he was drawn up an irrecoverable corpse. "Her conduct did not pass unnoticed: a procession of the corporation and a solemn Te Deum took place on the occasion. Catha rine received the public thanks of the Duke of Orleans, the Bishop of Noyon, and the town magistrates. A medal, commemorating her glorious intrepidity, with considerable pecu- CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDB. 7i) niary rewards and a civic crown, were also bestowed on her; but she found a reward, greater than all these, in beholding the hap piness of those families, who, but for her, would have been hapless widows and orphans; and the congratulations of her own heart were the best recompence of all." " What a noble girl," cried Emily. " What infamous cowards," cried Ed mund, " must all the rest have been, to have suffered her to descend again into this dan gerous place, after it had so nearly proved fatal to her. I protest they deserved to have been thrown in themselves, and to have had no one but such as themselves behold their fate." " That is almost too uncharitable an idea," aaid his mother; " and yet I do not know, in what terms to express sufficiently the con tempt, which the selfish insensibility of these people deserved. I believe we must follow the example of those who rewarded poor Catha rine, and express our sense of her generous hu manity, by assigning her the first rank among those whom we have celebrated to-night." " Hold!" cried Sir Hubert, " not quite so fast: let us first discuss the merits of the rest. gO CHRISTMAS-FIRE-SinE. And, in the first place, what have you to say to my good bishop of Amida?" " We have already expressed our opinion," said Lady Arborfieid, of his benevolence and goodness. He did honour to his sacred office; an4, while he evinced the goodness of his own heart, he gave a striking- proof of the purity and simplicity of that religion, of which he was so worthy a minister, when he showed, that the God he worshipped delighted more in the happiness of his creatures, than in splendid sacrifices to himself; and was better pleased with the offerings of an humble heart, than with all the pomp of ceremony. But, without detracting from his merits, on the score of humanity, it must be observed, that this religion, with which his mind was so strongly impressed, enjoined such acts as a duty; and he would, therefore, have thought himself offending against religion, as well as morality, if he had done otherwise than he did." " At all events, then," said Charles, " the good bishop did well; for few people are found who always perform their duty." " Even this objection," said Edmund, "can not be urged against Metellus, for I do not re collect that the religion of the Romans taught CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 81 them to give up what was advantageous to themselves, for the sake of humanit}^ to others; and they certainly were instructed, in all the contests with their enemies, to spare neither others, nor themselves: and, as my father ob served, had he been unsuccessful in his expe dition, this mercy would have been alleged against him as a crime, and, as the cause of his ill success; and he would have been strip ped of his honours, and sent into banishment. When we think of all this, I do not know how you can well point out a greater instance of humanity than this of Metellus." " I quite agree with you, Edmund," an swered Charles, " that, considering every thing, this action of Metellus was very noble and hu mane; but I will not say, that I conceive it impossible to be excelled. A man is scarcely entitled to praise, because he does not do all the harm in his power; I do not mean to infer, however, that this is precisely the case with Metellus, because he raised the siege, rather than injure these innocent victims, and resign ed a certain advantage to himself, rather than obtain it by the sacrifice of humanity. It might, it is true, be said, in answer to this, that the place, perhaps, was not of so much iniportance,ws to influence the success of the 82 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. whole expedition; and, that he knew human nature so well, as to be aware that this lenity would conquer more than his arms." " That would be scrutinizing the motives of human actions too severely," observed Sir Hubert, " and resolving every thing into self- interest. I did not know you were so nice a casuist; I am afraid that few of us could bear the lest of such severe criticism/' " I did not mean, my dear uncle," replied Charles, " to say, that this was my own opi nion of Metellus, I merely intended to show my cousin, that it was not impossible, but that there might be actions still more disinterested, than this of the Romau proconsul. At the; same time, I entreat you to believe, that I do not wish to insinuate, that the conduct of An- tigonus has a superior claim to admiration; and, I wish Edmund to be as free in his re marks upon him, as I have been upon his, hero." *' You are very liberal my dear Charles,'* said Edmund, " but I really cannot find any thing in the conduct of Antigonus, but what is worthy of praise. The generous pity, which he expressed for the fate of the treacherous Pyrrhus, who sought his ruin by every means in his power, fills me with love and admira- CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 83 tion; and his humane attention to the son of this rival, was more glorious to him than his victory." " I am extremely obliged to you," answer ed Charles, " for having pleaded the cause of my hero, so much better than I could have done myself." "These were very great and noble men, to be sure," said Emily; " but, I think I may venture to place our gallant Sir Philip Sidney in competition with them, without fear of his lustre being diminished by the comparison." " Well, really," cried Edmund, " though I admire the character of Sir Philip Sidney, and think him an honour to the English nation, I do not see, in this action, any thing so won derful. It was, certainly, very good-natured, to give the poor soldier what he wanted him self, but it was only a little water." "It was only a little water!" replied George; " but that little water was then more valuable to him, than all the wealth or power in the world. He was parched up with heat, and thirst, and feverish from his wounds: his eyes were tantalized with the cooling draught; and yet he resigned it to another, because he saw him languish for it. All, who have been shipwrecked, have wandered in the wilds of 84 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. Africa, have been confined in dungeons, or have otherwise been reduced to famine, have described the sensation of thirst, as exceeding all other agonies that can be imagined, or en dured. You must not, therefore, think it a trifling sacrifice, which the gallant Sir Philip made, nor consider it less entitled to admira tion, because others, in the same circumstan ces, have acted in the same manner." " All that can be said for our good king Al fred and his queen, has already been said by my cousin George, in defending the merits of Sir Philip Sidney. But I must confess," con tinued Jane, " that I do not think the action of the king equal, in point of humanity and self-denial, to that of the gallant knight; be cause, though his distress was very great, yet it evidently was not so pressing, or imme diate." " I am aware," said Lady Arborfield, " that with you, who make such nice and severe dis criminations between the different shades of virtue, my Scotch merchant will not rank in the first scale of philanthropists. Edmund thinks money nothing; and yet, you will allow that a man must have no small share of kind ness for his fellow-creatures, in his nature, when he could suppress his feeling for his own HRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 85 misfortunes, to exert himself to alleviate the distress of others." '* As you related the story, my dear aunt," said Charles, " I observed you mentioned that Mr. Dale told the poor children, they would be better off than they were before, because they would have nothing to do but to play till the manufactory was rebuilt. Was this perfectly right to teach poor children to con sider labour a task, which it was desirable to be relieved from?" " Your question is judicious," replied the good lady; " but we must remember, that the worthy merchant said this in the overflowing of his heart, and was not then so anxious to instruct, as to console them. I believe, how ever, I was right in my first opinion, that the crown of merit must be given to Catharine Vassent." " I really think so too," said Emily; " and I willingly resign the pretensions of the brave Sir Philip to the superior claims of this French peasant girl." " And I those of Metellus," said Edmund. " There was something so noble, so incompa rable, in her attempting what all others were afraid to hazard; and in descending a second I 8(5 CHRISTMAS TIRE-SIDE. time into the frightful gulph, that had already nearly deprived her of life." "You are very kind," said George, "my good friends, to save me the trouble of expa tiating on the virtue of the good Catharine. But, as my father is our judge, we are taking the province out of his hands, by deciding ourselves on the comparative merits of those, whose actions we have been relating. And we appeal to you, Sir, therefore, for a confir mation of our judgment." The worthy baronet assented to the rea sons that were adduced in Catharine's favour; and, after a slight repast, the, young friends netired to their respective apartments. / CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 87 THE party at Holly Hall met each other, OH the fourth evening since our introduction of them to our young readers, with smiles of cheer ful expectation; and having already decided on Friendship as the theme for their present dis cussion, Charles related the following anec dote, as the noblest instance of it that occur red to his recollection. " It was after the second memorable bat tle at Philippi, where Brutus, with his army, experienced a total defeat, that Lucilius, his friend and confidant, gave him a nobj^ proof that he deserved this distinction. Being- aware that Brutus was in the greatest danger of falling into the power of his enemies, he determined to avert this misfortune at the risk of his own life. He, therefore, threw himself in the way of a party, who were in search of his unfortunate friend, and, in pur suance of his generous resolution, gave Brutus 88 CHRISTMAS FinE-SIDE. an opportunity of making his escape, by de claring to the soldiers who were in pursuit of him, that he was himself the object of their search. * I am Brutus,' said this generous friend; ' lead me to Antony.' These soldiers were a band of Thracians, unacquainted with the person of Brutus, and readily believed the assertion of Lucilius. He was immedi ately led into the presence of Antony, who was debating with himself in what manner he should receive and treat Brutus, who, he be lieved, -was on the point of being delivered up to him. On the entrance of Lucilius, he in stantly discovered the mistake of his soldiers. Lucilius preserved the most undaunted courage in this situation, and discovered no anxiety, but for the preservation and honour of his friend. *I have taken the name of Brutus,' said he, 'but to preserve him from falling alive into the hands of his enemies. The gods will not permit that fortune should triumph so far over virtue; and should he be taken, either alive or dead, Brutus will be found in a situation worthy of his illustrious character. As for myself, 1 value my own life only as it has enabled me to preserve one so much more precious to Rome; and yield it with triumph, now I have succeeded.' Antony CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 89 could not conceal his admiration of this conduct; and generously pardoning a deception which had so disinterested an object in view, express ed, in the warmest terms, his approbation; then turning to the enraged Thracians, whom Lu- cilius had deceived, he addressed them in the following words: 'I perceive, my friends, that the generous fraud that has been practi sed on you, has provoked in you the strongest resentment; but know, if you have failed in delivering to me the enemy you expected, yet you have brought me what is a far more estimable prize you have brought me a friend, for such I hope to make him: and is it not far more honourable to have such a man as Lucilius for a friend than an enemy?' Then addressing himself to Lucilius, he said, ' I can offer thee, generous man, no reward equal to thy merit Brutus is now dead, and thy noble friendship has lost its object. I restore thee thy liberty, and ask but this in return, be to Antony what thou hast been to Brutus; and, if thou canst, love me as thou didst him.' Lucilius, penetrated with this noble candour and forbearance, embraced the interests of Antony, and adhered as firmly to him as he had to Brutus. He never forsook him, when he was deserted by every one else." i 3 00 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. " How unfortunate it was that Brutus did not live to enjoy longer such a friend as Luci- lius!" said Edmund: " I am sure I should have thought such a friend a greater blessing than a thousand conquests." " So thought Antony," replied Sir Hubert; " and in this instance did himself honour. A generous disposition will never exult over a fallen foe: and Antony knew that, by attach ing such a man. as Lucilius to his interests, he acquired a treasure, of which no reverse of fortune could deprive him. I will myself re late an anecdote of the Romans, which aftbrds another proof how high a sense they enter tained of this exalted virtue, and how ready they were, at all times, to sacrifice themselves in its cause." " Caius Gracchus, who was the idol of the Roman people, having carried his regard for the plebeians so far as to draw on himself the resentment of the nobility, an open rup ture ensued. The consul Opimius, who espoused the cause of the latter, seized a post, which commanded the city. Gracchus and Fulvius, his friend, with a confused multitude, took possession of Mount Aventine; so that the two extremities of Rome, to the east and CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 01 the west, were like two camps. Overtures of peace were made, but not being accepted, a battle ensued, in which the consul, meeting with a more vigorous opposition than he ex pected, proclaimed a pardon for those who should lay down their arms; and, at the same time, set a price on the heads of Gracchus and Fulvius, promising to give their weight in gold to any one who should bring them to him. This proclamation had the desired effect; the populace slipped away one by one, and, deserting their leaders, returned silently to their own houses. Fulvius, by the vigil ance of the consular party, was taken and beheaded. As for Gracchus, he would have taken refuge in the temple of Diana; but Li- cinius Crassus, his brother-in-law, and Pom- ponius, a Roman knight, who attended him, advised him to make his escape from thence. He followed their advice, and passing through the centre of the city, got to the bridge Sub- licius, where his enemies, who pursued him close, would have overtaken and seized him, had not his two friends, with the greatest in trepidity and resolution, opposed their fury; but they saw the danger he was in, and de termined to save his life, even at the expence of their own. They defended the bridge alone 99 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. against all the consular troops, till Gracchus was out of their reach; and, at length, being overpowered by numbers, and covered with wounds, they both expired on the bridge, which they had immortalized by their glo rious exploit. In the meanwhile Gracchus fled to a sacred wood, dedicated to the Furies, and there ordered a generous slave, by name Euphorus, or, as others call him, Philostratus, who had attended him, to put an end to his life. The faithful slave, resolving not to out live his master, stabbed himself with the same dagger which he had plunged into the breast of Gracchus, and expired with him." " I do not recollect any instance; at pre sent," said Edmund, " of a person sacrificing his life for his friend ; but I have been much pleased with one, which I will relate to you, of the confidence with which the sentiment of friendship inspired a citizen of Corinth, in the last moments of his life." "Eudamidas, the person I speak of, was in very indigent circumstances, and drawing near his end, his mother and daughter were threatened with absolute poverty. This did not appear, however, to give the dying man CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. f)3 any concern; but, on his decease, a circum stance was discovered, which accounted for this apparent insensibility. He had made a will, a few hours before he expired, contain ing these memorable, words: 'I bequeath to Aretseus the maintenance of my mother, and her support under old age; and to Charixenes, I bequeath and appoint the disposal of my daughter in marriage, and desire him to give her the best dowry in his power to bestow; and, in case either of my said two friends should die, then I substitute the survivor to perform what the other should have done, had he lived.' When this testament was read, it ex cited, at first, the astonishment of those who heard it; but, considering only the poverty of Eudamidas, and not knowing his connection with the legatees, they treated the matter as a mere pleasantry, and went out laughing at the legacies bequeathed to them. But not so those in whose friendship he had placed such noble confidence. Immediately that they heard the report of it, they came and hastened to ratify solemnly the engagements enjoined them by their departed friend. Charixenes, however, did not live to execute his part of the trust, for, in a few days after the death of Eudamidas, he expired; and, as the will ex- 94 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SlDt. pressed, the twofold charge devolved n Aretaeus. This excellent man generously dis charged the duty imposed on him. He adopted the aged mother of Eudamidas, and treated her with the same filial attention as the one bestowed on him by nature; and, in giving the daughter in marriage to an amiable man, he endowed her with a portion equal to that of his own daughter, who was married on the same day." " Well, I declare," exclaimed Charles, when Edmund had finished his story, " this is the strangest will I ever heard of; and I can not help thinking, that there are few people now that would have observed it so strictly as Aretaeus did." " Nay, my dear cousin," said George, " do not condemn the moderns unheard; I think I can relate an instance similar, and nothing in ferior, to this of Edmund's, and that too of a modern." \ - & "The author I quote from, Monsieur Se- daine, has neglected to give the name of the gentleman, whose enthusiastic friendship has given me the opportunity of taking up the cause of the moderns on this subject. But CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. <>3 we understand from him, that he was a man of rank and fortune; and that he had a friend, who, at his death, left his affairs in a very de ranged state, and two children totally unpro vided for. In a short time, the gentleman was observed to have adopted a very rigid plan of economy. He put down his equi page, quitted his mansion, discharged his ser vants, all but one footman, and took apart ments in a small house; from whence he walked every day to the palace, followed by his servant, to discharge the duties of his post. This conduct did not fail to draw on him a load of calumny: imprudence, avarice, and the most unworthy motives were alter nately imputed to him; but he nobly disdain ed them all ; and, at the end of two years, he reappeared in the world, having accumulated th(f sum of twenty thousand pounds. This he generously applied to the payment of his deceased friend's debts, and to the service of his orphans; and thus rescued the memory of a worthy man from shame, and a helpless off spring from misery and ruin." " I am happy to find, George," said his cousin, " that you can so well refute my hasty assertion. Indeed, I ought not to have made 9$ CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. it; for, as we have decided in favour of the moderns every night hitherto, I had no rea son to suppose, that they were more deficient in friendship, than in other virtues." "My brother George," said Emily, "has produced a modern instance, parallel with that of the good Corinthian, Aretaeus. I am glad that I can recollect one, that happened almost within our own time, resembling exactly that of Lucilius, the generous friend of Brutus. " Roderick Mackenzie, a young merchant of Edinburgh, attached himself to the cause t)f the Pretender, in the year 1745. He was about the same age as Prince Charles, and much resembled him in person. He was not only attached to him from principles, but was fascinated by his elegant manners and conde scending affability. The prince was equally struck with the fervent and disinterested at tachment of the young merchant, and a firm and intimate friendship commenced between them. After the total defeat of Prince Charles, at Culloden, Mackenzie followed his leader's fate. They wandered about for some time among the hills round Glenmoriston, and en dured all the hardships which fatigue, hunger, and dread of discovery could inflict. Stimu- CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 7 lated by these, Mackenzie one day imprudent ly ventured farther from the place of their concealment than he had been accustomed to do while it was light, having before prevailed on the prince to remain quiet till his return. Unfortunately he was discovered by some of the soldiers, who were in pursuit of his leader. Mackenzie instantly perceived that they had mistaken him forthe object of their pursuit, and instantly reflecting, how essentially he might serve his prince, by deceiving his pursuers, he nobly resolved on preserving the life of his friend by the sacrifice. He was determined, however, not to yield himself a tame victim to his adversaries; he drew his sword, and fought bravely in defence of his life. His steadiness and undaunted courage confirmed the soldiers in their belief of his being the young Pretender; and, at length, one of them shot him. The generous Mackenzie fell, ex claiming, * Traitors, you have murdered your prince!' and he expired, repeating these words. The soldiers, congratulating each other on the certainty of having secured to themselves the reward of thirty thousand pounds, offered by government for the head of the Pretender, im mediately cut off that of Mackenzie, and has tened to claim their reward, by carrying it K 98 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. to Fort Augustus. Mackenzie had not sa crificed his life in vain. Several, who were supposed to be well acquainted with the per son of Prince Charles, declared the head to be his. This news was soon carried to the Duke of Cumberland, who, in consequence, immediately set off for London,, The search, of course, was suspended; and, by this heroic act of friendship, which he did not hear of till some time afterwards, Prince Charles was enabled ultimately to evade his pursuers." " I cannot help feeling for this unfortunate prince, in being deprived of the society of the noble Mackenzie, which must have been such a consolation to him in his misfortunes; and the manner in which he lost him," continued Jane, " must have added the severest poignan cy to his grief. I remember reading an anec dote in the History of England, which very much affected me at the time, that this story of Emily's reminded me of. 'X " Henry the Second was of a very generous and affable disposition, and treated those no blemen of his court, who were eminent for their virtues, as friends, rather than subjects. Among this distinguished number was Hu- CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. Qf) bert de St. Clare; on whom, however, the king does not seem to have bestowed any ex traordinary favours, except that of personal kindness. " At the siege of Bridgenorth castle, which was defended by Roger de Mortimer, the king exposed himself to much danger. While he was busied in giving orders, near the wall of the fortress, one of Mortimer's archers aimed an arrow, which would certainly have killed him. The generous Hubert, perceiving the danger of his beloved monarch, the moment that the archer drew the fatal string, stepped before the body of his friend, and received the arrow in his own breast. The wound was mortal; and the brave Hubert expired in the arms of his master, recommending his infant daughter to his protection. Henry, affected beyond description, by this noble deed, shed tears of the bitterest regret over the corpse of his faithful and generous friend. He vowed to observe, sacredly, his dying request, and called on Heaven to witness the solemn engagement. He educated the daughter of his preserver with the most sedulous attention, and be stowed on her all that affection and gratitude, which he owed to her lamented father. His regard and care of her never relaxed; and, 100 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. when she arrived at the age of maturity, he bestowed her, as the noblest gift in his posses sion, on William de Longueville, a nobleman of the greatest distinction, on condition of his taking the name of St. Ciare, which the grate ful monarch was determined to perpetuate." " Poor Hubert," said Edmund, "I have of ten shed tears over his affecting story; and I am sure I could not help doing so, if I were to read it every day ; and yet I love to read it too." " That's my good boy," exclaimed his ad miring father; " these are the natural effusions of a warm heart; and, though I would repress in you every tendency to weakness, or ener vating sensibility, the genuine feelings of be nevolence will ever give me the sincerest de- light." Edmund's expressive eyes beamed with rapture at the applause of his father, and Lady Arborfield proceeded with the amusements of the evening, in the following manner: "The incident I mean to tell you, my dear children, I fancy will not fail to interest you, as it will show the firm attachments which are sometimes formed at school. eWKISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 101 " Lord Stanhope was at Eton school with one of the Scotch noblemen, who were con demned for having joined the Pretender, in the rebellion of 1715. He had never seen his friend since their school days; but his affec tionate remembrance was not effaced by so long a separation. While the privy council were deliberating upon signing the warrant of these unfortunate noblemen, he requested them to spare the life of his friend. His request was refused; with which he was so much grieved and offended, that he declared his in^ tention of resigning his place. This menace he persisted in, and at length it had the de sired effect. The privy council yielded to his threats, what they had refused to his entreaties He instantly communicated the pleasing in telligence to his associate in early life, and, at the same time, conveyed him a handsome sum of money, to assist him in his exile." "We have produced so many instances so nearly alike," said Sir Hubert, " that I am afraid we shall have considerable difficulty in making any distinction of merit between them. But our friend Charles is such an able casuist that I conclude he will find reasons for giving. the friend of Brutus the preference." K3 102 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. " Itis impossible for me," answered Charles, " to say any thing more in favour of Lucilius, than barely to relate the story; the action speaks sufficiently for itself; nor do I think there is a single point of his conduct open to attack or suspicion." " Not as a friend, perhaps, my dear cousin," said George; " but his principles do not seem to have been very firmly fixed, or he never would have accepted the friendship, and sided with the party, of the debauched tyrant An tony, after having been so intimately connect ed with the virtuous republican Brutus." " Come, come," said Sir Hubert, " even you, George, are here straying from the point in question. We do not speak of the political principles or attachments of Lucilius, but of his attachment to his friend; and, in this re spect, it cannot be denied, that his conduct was most disinterested and noble." " The action of Roderick Mackenzie," said Emily, "resembles, as I said before, that of Lucilius so exactly, that I can perceive scarce ly any difference between them ; and I cannot suggest any reason for claiming the superiori ty for Mackenzie, unless we may conclude, from his chusing to die in the defence of his friend, that no circumstances could have in- CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 103 duced him to become the friend of his enemies; as Lucilius did of those who pursued the noble Brutus with the most inveterate hatred." " I am going to do," said Sir Hubert, " what I have just checked in George; but I cannot avoid observing, that, while we admire and praise the virtue of young Mackenzie, we must regret that it was not exerted in a better cause. His friend was a proscribed alien, seek ing to overturn the constitution of his coun try, and, by joining himself to him, therefore, Mackenzie became a traitor to his king. The same objection will apply, however, in some measure, to the friends of Gracchus. This Roman is as much panegyrized by some, as he is virulently abused by others; and though he certainly does not deserve the reproach of the one party, some deduction must be made from the praise that has been lavished upon him by the other. He was a very honest man, and his intentions were good; but, while he sought to increase the liberty of the people, he com mitted violences against the law of the state, and introduced licentiousness under the name of reform. Whatever, therefore, is the degree of blame that can be attached to Gracchus, his friends are involved in it. Their attachment, however, to him personally is the same; and 104 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. we cannot withhold our admiration of the ex alted proof which they gave of their friend ship and bravery." " You have not noticed, my dear papa," said Emily, " the affection of the poor slave. If I may be allowed to express my opinion, I think the attachment which he showed for .his master, is quite as singular as that of his two noble friends." "I think so too," added Edmund; "and is more deserving of notice, as we do- not ex pect, in persons of his condition, such gene rosity of sentiment: at the same time it proves what my father said, that Gracchus must have been a very good and amiable man, to have inspired his slave with so much affection and devotion. In the anecdote which I related of the generous Corinthians, I do not know which most to admire, the noble confidence of poor Eudamidas, or the cheerfulness and benevolence with which his- friends accepted the extraordinary bequest. I can readily suppose what George will say, to prove that the claims of his French gen tleman are superior to those of A-retaeus. He will say, that he took the charge of his friend's orphans upon him unasked, and bore the load of calumny, which his mysterious conduct CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 105 occasioned, with patience; and, satisfied with the purity of his own motives, braved suspi cions, which, to an honourable mind, are worse than death." " Thank you, thank you," cried George, laughing. " I protest you have found argu ments for me which would not have occurred to myself; and, by their so readily occurring to you, I suppose you feel the justice of them yourself." " If the sacrifice of life," said Jane, " be considered the greatest test of friendship, Hubert de St. Clare is entitled to rank with Lucilius or Mackenzie, or the friends of Gracchus. Nor is there the same ground to detract from his merits. He did not go over to the enemies of his friends, as Lucilius; nor was engaged in the cause of rebellion, as Mackenzie; nor assisted in disturbing the peace of his country, as the friends of Grac chus; but he gave up his life to preserve his king, though this life was so valuable to him, on account of his daughter, whom his friend ship made an orphan." " You have really made your hero appear so amiable," sajd Lady Arborfield, " that I am ashamed to bring mine in competition with him; and, indeed, I ought te observe, 106 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. that the conduct of Lord Stanhope was not entirely free from objection, since he made use of his influence to arrest the course of justice, which, though tempered with mercy, should never give way to private interest." "I confess, said the worthy baronet, "I did not think it would have been so easy a matter to decide this question; but Jane is really, as I before observed, quite a rhetori cian; though she speaks so seldom, she always speaks to the purpose; and, as I do not believe we shall be able to refute her arguments, we must consent to give the first place, among illustrious friends, to the gallant Hubert de St. Clare." CHRISTMAS FlftE-SIDE. 107 i have tonight," said Sir Hubert, when our young friends had arranged themselves, " an important subject to discuss. Justice has been said to comprehend every virtue which reason prescribes, or society has a right to expect. Our duty to our Maker, to each other, and to ourselves, is fully performed, if we give to each what in justice we owe. And as to be perfectly just is an attribute of the Divine Nature, so to be just to the utmost of our abilities is the perfection of human nature. The rule cannot be better laid down than it is in the words of the Divine Founder of our religion: ' Do unto others as ye would they should do unto you.' For this golden rule, Alexander Severus, one of the best of the Roman emperors, had such an uncommon veneration, that he ordered it to be engraved, in large capitals, over the gate of his palace, and on the doors of many of the public build ings." 108 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. " Aristides was so much distinguished for his integrity, that he received the glorious sur name of the Just. Among innumerable in stances that are related of him, there is one which proves how highly he merited this vir tuous distinction. " Themistocles, one of the most celebrated Athenian warriors, once declared, in a full assembly of the people, that he had a project to propose of the greatest public utility; but that he could not communicate it to the citizens at large, because the success of it de-. pended greatly on the secrecy which was ob served in its execution. He, therefore, re quested they would appoint a person, to whom he might explain himself, without any danger of a discovery. Aristides was the person fixed upon, by the whole assembly, to receive the communication; and they had so much confidence in his prudence and honesty, that they referred the matter entirely to his opinion. Themistocles, therefore, having taken him aside, informed him, that the pro ject he had conceived was, to burn the fleet of the Grecian states, their allies, which then lay in the neighbouring port, called the Piraeus; adding that, by this means, Athens would become absolute mistress of the sea, CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 109 and the umpire of all Greece. After this ex planation, Aristides returned to the assembly, and assured them, that nothing could be more beneficial to the republic than the project of Themistocles; but, at the same time, nothing could be more unjust and dishonourable. On hearing this, the people unanimously voted, that Themistocles should desist from his project." " What a disgrace," said George, " it was to Themistocles, to have proposed such a project. And really I cannot conceive any title so dignified as that bestowed on Aris tides by the Athenians; a title which he so well deserved, that it is recorded of him, that although he enjoyed the highest posts in the government, and had the absolute disposal of its treasures, he died so poor as not to leave sufficient to defray his funeral expences. But the Athenians had so high a sense of his merit, that they buried him, and afterwards supported his family in the most honourable manner. But I am delaying your story, Charles, which we will now thank you to relate." " M. Popilius Laena," said Charles, " the L 110 CHRISTMAS-flRE-SIDE. Roman consul, being sent against the Stelli- ates, a people in Liguria, bordering on the rivr Tanarus, killed and took so many pri soners, that, finding the forces of their nation reduced to ten thousand men, they submitted to the consul, without settling any terms. Popilius, regardless of that humanity which gives a double lustre to conquest, dismantled their cities, disarmed the inhabitants, and, re ducing them all to slavery, sold them, and all they possessed, to the highest bidder. But such was the equity of the Roman senate, that they resented this severe and cruel pro ceeding; and passed a decree, commanding Popilius to restore the money he had received for the sale of the Stelliates, to set them at liberty, return them their effects, and even purchase new tirms for them; and conclu ded their decree with words which poste rity ought never to forget. * Victory is glo rious, when it is confined to the subduing of an untractable enemy ; but, it becomes shameful, when it is made use of to oppress the unfortunate.' " " I wish all conquerors, who know so lit tle in what true bravery consists," exclaimed George, indignantly, " were to receive the CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. Ill same severe check to their brutal rapacity. I should have little faith in generals, who be haved so ill in prosperity; for, I should be fearful that the avarice which could impel them to such flagrant acts of injustice, would, if the temptation were offered, induce them to betray the trust reposed in them." " Your indignation and severe reflections en the conduct of Popilius, George," said his father, "are justifiable; for the wretch, who can increase the sufferings of a vanquished foe in so atrocious a manner, may fairly be suspected of any crime that can disgrace hu manity." " Cambyses, one of the kings of Persia," said Edmund, " who was famous for his un alterable regard to justice, had a particular favourite, whom he conceived to be a virtuous man, and he therefore raised him to the office of a judge: but the ungrateful wretch, depending upon the credit he had with his master, prostituted the honour of his govern ment, and the rights and properties of his fellow subjects, in such a daring manner, that causes were bought and sold in the courts of judicature, as openly as provisions in the market. Avarice was the ruling passion of CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. his soul ; and those who would gratify it with the richest oblations, were always certain of gaining their suit. When Cambyses was in formed of this, he was so much exasperated, that he not only ordered him to be seized and publicly degraded, but commanded, that his skin should be stripped over his ears, and the seat of judgment be covered with it, as a warning to others. To convince the world that he was influenced to commit this extra ordinary act of severity by no other motive than the love of justice, he afterwards ap pointed the son to succeed to the office of his father." " But I am sure," said Emily, " if I had been the son, I should have declined the ho nour of this distinction; for, how could he possibly be collected enough to administer justice, when he could not take his seat, on these occasions, without being reminded of the melancholy, though deserved, fate of his father." " That, Emily, is not accounted for," said Edmund; "and, as it does not immediate ly relate to our subject, we must be content to remain in ignorance of the manner iu CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 113 which the new judge reconciled this to his feelings." " Our immortal bard, Shakespeare, has taken the subject of one of his most beautiful and highly-finished scenes," said George, " from the following circumstance." " The celebrated Brutus, of whom we spoke last night, upon the accusation of the inhabitants of Sardis, publicly condemned, and branded with infamy, Lucius Pella, who had formerly been censor, and whom Brutus had himself often employed in offices of great confidence; his crime was the having abused the trust reposed in him, by embezzling the public money. Cassius, the friend and half- brother of Brutus, was much offended with him for this sentence ; as he conceived it an indirect reproach of his own conduct for ha ving, but a few days before, publicly absolved two of his own friends, and continued them in their offices; and, although they had been accused of the same crimes as Lucius Pella, merely giving them a slight reproof in pri vate. Cassius was of too choleric a disposi* tion to be able to conceal from Brutus how much he was hurt at the difference of his conduct; and he therefore accused him, but L3 114 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDK. in a friendly manner, of too much austerity and rigour, where gentleness and kindness were necessary, and would not fail to prove of more service to their cause. In answer to this remonstrance, Brutus reminded him of the Ides of March, on which day they had put Caesar to death ; who, though he himself never oppressed or vexed mankind, instead of punishing, was the support of those that did, and thus drew the public odium on him self. He desired Cassius to consider, that if justice could be neglected, under any false colouring, for what had they sacrificed Caesar; and that it certainly would have been better to have suffered the injustice of Caesar's friends, than to suffer that of their own to re main unpunished. ' For then,' said he, * we could have been accused of cowardice only; whereas now, if we connive at the injustice of others, we make ourselves liable to the same accusation, and share with them in the guilt.' Plutarch, in whom," said George, " I read this anecdote, remarks, 'That from this we may judge what was the rule of all the actions of Brutus.' " t\ " I love," said Jane, " to read Plutarch's Lives; he seems to have been so very good- CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 115 natured a man, and to have painted every thing in such amiable colours. And this is what we so seldom meet with in biographers, or historians, that it is the more conspicuous in him." " Very true," said her aunt, " and for this reason; there are few historians, who do not suffer party zeal to bias their relations of facts, and it is from these prejudices, that we find the same actions represented in such different lights." " I have been highly diverted," said Emily, " with an anecdote that I read a short time since; which, though rather ludicrous, shows how very impartial our good and learned Sir Thomas More was, in his administration of justice. "There was a poor woman, who had lost a little dog, of which she was very fond: in her enquiries after it, she was informed, that the lady of Sir Thomas More had, in her posses sion, a dog, which she had lately received as a present; and, from the description, the woman had reason to suppose it to be her own. She, therefore, went immediately to Sir Thomas, as he was sitting in the hall of justice; and complained to him, that his lady withheld 116 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. her dog from her; Sir Thomas gave order*, that his lady should be directly summoned to appear before him; and, that the dog should be brought with her. When the lady and the dog came, he took the little fellow in his hands, and desired his lady to take her stand at one end of the hall, and the poor woman at the other; and, saying, * That he sat there to do every one justice,' he placed the dog in the middle of the hall between them, and bid each of them call him; which they no sooner did, than the little dog ran to the poor woman, wagging his tail and fawning upon her, as if glad to see an old acquaintance. Upon this evidence, Sir Thomas said he was convinced that the dog was not his lady's, and therefore bid her go home contented. But my lady was so much pleased with the little animal, that she could not help repining at being deprived of it. She, therefore, offered the poor womaa a price for it, which was gladly accepted, and so all parties were satisfied. All the spectators, however, smiled at the manner in which Sir Thomas had enquired out the truth." "This, I suppose," said Edmund, "is what they call, in law, strong presumptive proof, papa?" CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 117 " It is rather, I think, strong circumstan- cial proof; and it is evident that Sir Thomas thought so, as there can be no doubt, that if any stronger had been required, it could easily have been procured. You have really, my dear Emily," said Sir Hubert, "communica ted your own mirthful sensations to us ; and, I do not think it possible to refrain from laugh ing, when we reflect on this curious and sin gular spectacle in a hall of justice." The young party having enjoyed this scene in imagination a few minutes, Jane thus re sumed the discourse. " One of the loose favourites of the Prince of Wales, afterwards Henry the Fifth, being arraigned for felony, the prince determined to be present at the trial ; hoping to overawe, by his presence, the stern independence of Sir William Gascoigne, who was the judge. But in this attempt he failed; for that just man, unmoved by hope and unawed by fear, not only performed his duty, by passing sentence on the culprit, but ordered the prince himself into custody, for having assaulted, and struck him on the seat of justice. " The prince, who saw his error the mo ment he had committed the offence, acted witfc 113 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. a greatness of mind, which astonished every one, when they considered the dissoluteness of his life, the strength of his passions, and the weakness with which he had hitherto resisted them. Submitting, without a murmur, to the orders of that court, which he had so grossly offended, he followed the officer, who had him in custody, quietly to prison. His father-* Henry the Fourth, on being informed of the whole circumstance, exclaimed, in a transport of joy, ' Happy is the king, who has a magis trate that has courage to execute the laws; and still more happy, in having a son, who will submit to their chastisement!' The prince himself, on ascending the throne, after the death of his father,, sent for Sir William Gas- coigne; and, applauding him for his past con duct, warmly exhorted him to persevere in the same strict and impartial execution of the laws." " This was the glorious prince," said George, " who was afterwards the pride of England, and the scourge of France; but I do not know whether he is more to be admired as a conqueror, in the field of Agincourt, or as a prisoner, in the court of justice." f .. This observation being generally assented CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. to by the rest of the party, Lady Arborfield, whose story only remained to be told, thui began: "'Kbalil Pacha was appointed beglerbeg, or governor of Egypt, in the year 1631. He was a very good and virtuous man, and was much beloved by the people, who had been long ac customed to the tyranny and oppressions of the governors, who had preceded him; for these men, who were chiefly minions of the Ottoman court, preferred, in almost every in stance, their own interests, and the gratifica tion of their own passions, to the dictates of justice. All manner of abuses had grown up under their government, and every sort of in justice was committed with impunity. The virtuous Khalil saw this, and was determined upon a reform. "A Jew, named Yacoub, had for fifteen years* exercised, in Cairo, the office of sariaf- baschi, or president of the merchant brokers. All the places and offices of the city were in his hands, and the people groaned under the pressure of his odious vexations; but, as he had always cultivated the favour of the beg- lerbegs, he had hitherto proceeded, without interruption, in his career of tyranny, Khalil 120 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. resolved to punish this great criminal. Nei ther his offered presents, nor the solicitations of the great, could effect a change in his re solution; though the great, who protected him, were more earnest in their solicitations, because the Jew owed them large sums of money, which they feared to lose by his con demnation. When Khalil was informed, that this was the reason of the concern they took in the fate of Yacoub, unwilling that any should surfer by his love of justice, he paid them, out of his own private property, what the Jew owed them, and put him to death. " When this virtuous man quitted his go vernment, in the spring of 1633, all the mer chants shut up their shops, from the first of April, to the end of that month ; no beglerbeg had ever before received so flattering a testi mony of gratitude from the citizens. Under his government, none had been punished with death, but after a judicial enquiry; a mode of proceeding not often attended to by the des pots under the Turkish government. " Three robbers being one day brought before him, who had just been taken, he or dered them to be tried ; one of the officers of the divan represented to him, that all affairs of this kind were not to be aubjected to the CHRISTMAS'FIRE-SIDE. l?l strict rules of proceeding; and that it would be eligible to make use of his authority, and sentence the rogues to death, without further enquiry. The pacha, without making any answer, directed the secretary of the divan to draw up an order, to demolish the house of the officer, who had given this advice; and, having signed it, he charged some of his at tendants to put it instantly into execution. The officer, surprised and alarmed at such a strange order, approached the pacha, and humbly entreated to know the motive of his command. 'How!' exclaimed Khalil, 'does the destruction of that house, which thou hast built, affect thee, and shall not God be offended, if the work of his own hands should be de stroyed?' The officer, confounded at the jus tice of this rebuke, kissed the lower end of the pacha's robe, and loaded him with bless ings; Khalil revoked the order he had given, and, at the same time, finding the charge against the robbers to be of no serious nature, set them all three at liberty; and, such wai the good effect of this well-timed lenity, that, from that period, the greatest security reigned throughout the city. " As the fate of so virtuous a man cannot fail to interest, I cannot conclude, without in- CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. forming you, that, on his return from his go vernment to Constantinople, the sultan con fiscated his whole fortune, and banished him to the island of Cyprus, with two slaves only. So true is the old observation, that envy fol lows merit as its shade. But the virtues of Khalil soared above the malice of his enemies; the sultan, soon convinced of his innocence and honour, restored him to his favour, re turned him his whole fortune, and promoted him to the government of Romania." " My aunt's observation," said Charles, "on the envy which pursued the good Khalil, re minds me of the anecdote of a man of Athens, who hated the good Aristides, (with whose story Sir Hubert began the evening) only be cause of his virtues. This fellow, who w ; as a peasant, and unacquainted with the person of Aristides, when the Athenians were passing sentence of banishment on him, by ostracism, asked Aristides to write on the shell, his vote of banishment. ' Has he done you any wrong/ said Aristides, ' that you are. for punishing him in- this manner?' 'No:' replied the countryman, ' I do not even know him; but I am sick of hearing every one tall him THE JUST.' Both in the instance which I adduced, CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 193 as well as in'that of my uncle's, what appears to me to be particularly admirable, is, that the act of justice, so eminent in each, was that of a whole assembly of men ; but I do not know which is entitled to the greatest degree of praise." " I think I can perceive some difference between them," replied Edmund; "but I do not know what effect it may have in influen cing our judgment respecting them. The Athenians, in rejecting the proposal of The- mistocles, declined what would have been an advantage to the whole state, but would have involved the whole state in one common dis grace and abhorrence. The Romans, in re senting the conduct of their chief magistrate, did not resign an advantage to the state, but only stripped an individual, Popilius, of the plunder he had so unjustly obtained; and made friends of enemies, by restoring them their possessions." "It must, however, be observed, on the other hand," said George, " that the advan tage declined by the Athenians, was one which they could not obtain, without injustice to those who were then their friends arid allies, and had confided themselves to their honour; while the Roman's refused to take advantage 124 CHR STMAS FIRE-SIDE. of enemies, whom they had defeated, and who had been compelled to surrender at discre tion." " You argue this point nicely," said Sir Hu bert; " but I do not think it likely we shall come to a decision on the subject; the cases seem to be very nearly balanced. Let us hear, Edmund, what you can say for the justice of King Cambyses; or rather, how will you pal liate the sanguinary mode which he adopted, to warn others against committing injustice?" " I do not think it was a very humane one, indeed," replied the boy; "and I can only ex cuse it by the practice of our own nation, and our own times, which are said to be very re fined: I mean, the barbarous custom of hang ing criminals in chains; which only serves to shock and disgust the good and humane pas senger, without at all answering the purpose for which they are professed to be put there; a striking proof of which, we have in the in* human murder of Mr. Steel, on Hounslow- Ijeath, almost under the gibbet where two men were hanging in chains, so close to the roac|, that you could almost see, as you passed, their bones staring through the flesh, that was ba.|f devoured by birds." is a Custom shocking to humanity/ CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 125 said Lady Arborfield, "and I wish it were abolished entirely. But the particular instance, you allude to, Edmund, has, I understand, been lately very properly removed'." " What I mentioned of Brutus," said teeofge, " I di'd for the sake rather of doing 1 credit to his general' conduct, than of instancing' it as a remarkable, or singular act of justice; for I have a great love and veneration for his character, and am fond of illustrating if.' I do not put it, therefore, i'n competition with the other examples, \vliich you have brought forward." " Though I related it as rather a' laugh able story," said Emily, " I would not li'ave you think lightly o'f Sir Thomas More and his little dog; for, if he would condescend to siidl a cjti-eful examination in trifles, to determine with justice, we must suppose he would acif with the same impartiality, on occasion's of greater importance." " Iri all those acts of justice, which" I Wave 1 heard this evening," said Jane, " I do not re member, that the persons, who performed them, had any thing to fea'f irf so' do'irig; out it was not so with Sir William 1 tfasfcoigrie. To 5 shofr the impartiality of his ddmiriisifStibtt of jufcticfe, ahd to avengfe the vlolatiofi 6f tftfc law M3 196 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. in his person, he sent the first subject in the kingdom to prison. By this act, he not only exposed himself to the resentment of the king, who might have conceived himself in sulted in the person of his son, but to the fu ture revenge of the prince, when he should ascend the throne. But his love of justice outweighed all regard for himself; and he fortunately found in the king and the prince, minds as noble and generous as his own." " If I may be allowed to undertake the panegyric of Khalil Pacha," said Edmund, "his merit appears to me more conspicuous, as he was alone virtuous among the de praved." *' This is saying rather too much," replied George; " it would be uncharitable to sup pose, that there were no other virtuous men in the dominions of the grand sultan. The beglerbegs, indeed, who had preceded him in the government of Egypt, seem to have sold injustice and impunity to crime; and his merit, therefore, was great, in stemming the torrent of corruption that had been introdu ced. His paying those who suffered losses by the execution of the Jew, showed that he really loved justice, and that money, at least, could aot bribe him to deviate from it : and the me- CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 127 thod he took to convince the officer of the injustice of punishment without trial, evin ced at once his ingenuity, his equity, and his piety." *'I feel more difficulty in deciding this question," said Sir Hubert, " than I have in any other on which we have commented; and this arises from the very nature of the sub ject; for where any two actions are perfectly just, they must be equally so. We may, however, in this decision, be allowed to take other circumstances into consideration. The first two instances, as the public acts of states, we will not compare with those of indivi duals; and of the others, the two last are cer tainly most deserving of praise. Their re spective merits have been pretty clearly pointed out by Jane and George; and, with out national prejudice, for the reasons which Jane has alleged, I believe I may venture to say, that this act of Sir William Gascoigne's is the noblest monument of justice upon record.'* CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. TEMPERANCE was the theme of this even ing, and, without any prelude, Charles Wood- ley commenced the subject with the following story: '* Alexander the Great, having restored Ada, the sister of Mausolus, king of Caria, to the throne of her ancestors, the princess re solved to show her gratitude to so generous at conqueror. For this purpose, having pro vided a variety of dainties, which had been improved by all the refmerrients of Asiatic luxury, she sent them as a present to the king, together with the cooks employed in making them. But the young monarch, who had no taste for such effeminate delicacies, thanking her very politely for her kind inten tions, sent her word, that he had no occasion for the cooks; because he had already two very excellent ones, who had been recommended to him by his tutor, Leonida.6: "A long* CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. march in the morning, to give him a relish for his dinner; and a moderate dinner to create in him an appetite for supper." He added, that Leonidas had always used to search his clothes and chests, when he was a boy, lest his mother, Olympias, from a false indul gence, should have concealed any niceties that might have vitiated and debauched his appetite. This manly temperance and mode ration, to which he had been accustomed in his earliest -youth, he retained a, long time afterwards; for, in his Asiatic expedition, when any scarce fruit, or fish, or any other kind of delicacies, were brought to him, he generally distributed them among his friends, reserving hardly a taste for himself." " I could not help laughing, Charles," cried Edmund, " when you mentioned that Leonidas used to suspect the mother of Alex ander of sending her son dainties. Does it not remind you of the boy at our school, whose mother always sent a servant, two or three times a week, to him, with game and poultry, and all sorts of confectionary? I am sure I shall not very soon forget the passions he threw himself into one day, when the servant, CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. by some mischance, did not arrive so soon as he expected." " Indeed," said George, " I have often thought I would sooner have eaten the coarsest fare in the world, than have endured the ridicule which he met with from the whole school, for this disgusting anxiety ahout his appetite. I do not know," continued he, " any character of whom so many instances of temperance are recorded as Cyrus the Great; and I should be happy in relating them, for the amusement of Jane and Emily, who have riot the opportunity of reading them in the original as we have, if I were not fearful of engrossing too much of the even- ing." The whole party declaring they should be much amused by the recital; he thus began: , " Cyrus, according to the manners of the Persians, was, from Tiis infancy, accustomed to sobriety and temperance, of which he was a most illustrious example through the whole course of his life. " When he was twelve years old, his mo ther, Mandane, took him with her into Mediai to his grandfather, Astyages; who, from the CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 131 many things he had heard in his favour, had a great desire to see him. In this court young Cyrus found very different manners from those of his own country. Pride, lux ury, and magnificence reigned here univer sally; but this general corruption had no effect upon the prince, who continued to live as he had been brought up, and adhered very strictly to the principles he had imbibed from his childhood. He charmed his grandfather by his sprightliness and wit; and gained the af feet ion ;of the whole court by his noble and engaging behaviour. " Astyages, to render this visit the more agreeable to his grandson, provided a sump tuous entertainment, in which there was the greatest plenty, and profusion of every thing that was nice and delicate. All this variety of exquisite cheer Cyrus beheld with ther greatest indifference; and even ventured to remark upon it, with a kind of pleasantry, which did honour to his understanding, and gave offence to no one. * Sir,' said he to his grandfather, ' if you taste all the dainties now before you, and reach out your hand to every dish upon the -table, you must take move trouble for one supper than would be suffi cient for a hundred.' * What!' replied Asty- 132 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. ages, * and is not this, think you, a muck better entertainment than any you have been used to in Persia?' 'No, indeed!' answered the prince with a smile; for, in Persia, we have a much readier and shorter method to satisfy our hunger; a piece of meat and a slice of bread do the business at once. But here, after travelling from this dish to that, and performing a tedious hunt from one end of the table to the other, you scarcely at last ^obtain your object, which we, Persians, arrive at with the least trouble in the world.' * Sacaa, the cup-bearer of Astyages, had like- wise the office of introducing those persons u> the king, who were permitted to have an audi ence; but not granting this liberty to Cyrui as often as he desired it, he had the misfor tune to displease the prince; who, therefore, took every opportunity to mortify him. Thin being observed by Astyages, he endeavoured to remove the dislike of the prince, by com mending Sacas for the remarkable neatnesa and dexterity with which he performed his office. Is that all, Sir?' replied Cyrus; 'if uch a trifling accomplishment is sufficient to merit your favour, you shall soon see how well I am able to deserve it; for, with your permission, I will immediately take upon me CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 133 to serve you much better than he.' Cyrus accordingly equipped himself like a cup bearer, and advancing carefully, with a serious countenance, a napkin upon his arm, and holding the cup very neatly upon three of his fingers, (as was the custom of the ancients,) he presented it to the king with such a re spectful gravity, that neither Astyages nor his mother, Mandane, could forbear smiling. Concluding from this that he had performed his part to their satisfaction, he instantly threw himself upon his grandfather's neck, and caressing him very fondly, * O, Sacas!' cried he: 'poor, unfortunate Sacas! you are certainly undone; and I shall have the ho nour of serving my grandfather instead of you.' ' Indeed,' said Astyages, who was much pleased with the affectionate caresses of his grandson, * I must do you the justice to acknowledge, that you have performed your part to admiration ; nobody can serve with a better grace; but you forgot one material ceremony, which is that of tasting.' For the cup-bearer, it seems, always poured some of the liquor into his left hand, and tasted it, before he presented it to the king. * No, Sir,' replied Cyrus, ' I did not omit that part through forgetfulness, but because I suspect- K 13i CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. ed there was poison in the liquor.' Poison, child!' exclaimed Astyages, ' how could you think so?' * Yes, Sir,' replied the boy, 4 1 was afi aid of poison ; for not long ago, at an entertainment you gave to your nobles, on your last birth-day, I plainly saw that your faithful Sacas had mixed some poison in the liquor. It was impossible for me to think otherwise; for, when you had drank of it pretty freely, I took notice that you were all surprisingly disordered in body and mind. Those very things, which you forbid us child ren to do, you did yourselves. You all spoke together; nor did any one attend to what was said, even by the person who sat next to him. You sung the most nonsensical songs I ever heard; and yet you all swore that they were the best in the universe. After that, when any of you rose up to entertain the company with a dance, you were so far from being able to keep time, that you could scarcely keep on your feet. In short, you yourself seemed to forget that you was a king, and they that they were subjects.' 'Very true, child,' said Astyages; 'but have you never observed the same disorder in your father?' ' Never, in my life,' replied Cyrus. *What then? How is it with him when he CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 135 drinks?' 'Why, when he has drunk what he cruises, his thirst is quenched, and that is all.' " Xenophon," said George, " from whom I quote these anecdotes, continues to say, that the invincible valour of the Persians may be justly ascribed to that temperate and hardy life, to which they were accustomed from their infancy. Add to this .the influence of example set them by Cyrus, whose am bition it was to surpass all his subjects in re gularity, and who was as abstemious and sober in his manner of life, and as much in ured to hardship and fatigue as the meanest of his soldiers. What might not be expected from such a body of troops, so formed, and so principled? At the head of this rough and hardy people, he attempted the conquest of the largest empire in the universe, and suc ceeded to admiration. After he had com pleted his victory, he exhorted his brave countrymen not to degenerate from their an cient virtue, that they might not obscure the glory they had acquired; but carefully to pre serve that simplicity, sobriety, temperance, and love of labour, by which they had obtained it. " The same illustrious prince having yield ed to the entreaties of one of his friends, to take a dinner with him, and being requested 136 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. to name the fare he chose, and- the place where the table should be spread, * It is my pleasure,' said he to the mortified courtier, whom he knew to be too luxurious in his manner of life, ' that you prepare the enter tainment on the banks of the river, to supply us with water to drink; and that a single loaf of bread be the only dish upon the table.' " Jane and Emily having thanked George for the entertainment he had given them, Edmund was called on for his example, and obeyed in the following manner : "When Agesilaus, king of Sparta, was presented, by the Thasians, with a large quantity of the most delicate eatables and costly liquors, he ordered the whole to be shared among the slaves, who performed the drudgery of the camps. The Thasians, with the utmost surprise, enquiring the motive of his conduct, he nobly replied: 'That it was beneath the character of men, who valued themselves for their probity and courage, to regale on niceties, which could serve no other purpose but to provoke and corrupt the ap petite. Such dainty trifles,' continued he, ' can be relished only by slaves, who aspire CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 137 to no greater pleasure than that of eating and drinking; and I have taken the liberty to be stow them accordingly.' For this reason, he would accept of nothing, for the use of him self and his brave countrymen, but some sacks of flour, which accompanied the pre sent." "As George has been kind enough to amuse us with so many interesting anecdotes of Cyrus," said Sir Hubert, "I shall, as the evening is pretty far advanced, content my self with telling you a very short one." " It is related of Socrates, that he was so desirous of gaining an entire command over his appetite, that, after exciting the most violent degree of thirst by hard exercise, he never allowed himself to drink till he had thrown away the first pitcher of water he drew; and to this temperance it is ascribed, that, although he was in Athens during the whole continuance of that dreadful plague, which has been so aftectingly described by several eminent writers, he never caught the least infection." " I wonder," cried Edmund, " if the Turks N3 138 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. are strict observers of this virtue. As they are afflicted with the plague so continually, I think they should have this proof of the effect of temperance written, and placed in their eating rooms." "I believe," answered Sir Hubert, "that the plague, which desolates Turkey, is more to be ascribed to the filth, which lies in every part of their cities, and to the narrowness of their streets; but chiefly to the extensive marshes and swamps, with which their coast abounds, producing noxious and pestilential vapours." " The virtue of temperance," said Jane, "was strongly illustrated in the conduct of one, who was at the same time one of the most able statesmen, and the most virtuous and amiable man that ever lived in any age. - " Sully, the celebrated minister of an equal ly celebrated monarch, Henry the Fourth of France, kept up the utmost frugality at his table. The same moderation prevailed in his manner of life at Villebon, which lie had been accustomed to in his youth, in the army. His table displayed an elegant economy, where few dishes were served up, and those dressed m the plainest and most simple manner. The CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 139 courtiers would often rally and reproach him for his simplicity, which was so opposite to their own luxurious style of life. On these oc casions, he used to reply in the memorable words of Socrates. ' If the guests are men of sense and sobriety, there is sufficient for them; if they are not, I can very well dispense with their company.' " I wish," said Lady Arborfield, " that the economy and temperance of these two eminent men were better observed in the present age. It is, I fear, owing to the spirit of prodigality and emulation of each other in luxury, beyond what their circumstances will warrant, that we hear so frequently of people being re duced from comparative affluence to absolute want." " My hero," said Emily, " is the famous monarch, Charles the Twelfth of Sweden, who, though, in the early part of his reign, he gave little promise of becoming the character he afterwards proved, had the resolution and forbearance, from the moment he prepared for war, to renounce, not only the excesses, but even the most innocent amusements of his youth. He commenced a life entirely new, 140 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. from which he never after varied in the least. Alexander and Caesar were his models in every thing. He reduced the luxury of his table to the exactest frugality, and the splendor of his habiliments to those of the simplest materials. He likewise resolved to abstain from wine; as he conceived it stimulated hte naturally fiery disposition. This forbearance was the more remarkable and praiseworthy in him, as so briety was a virtue, till that time, unknown in the north. But Charles was determined to be a pattern of virtue, in his own person, to all his subjects." " I shall," said Lady Arborfield, "conclude the examples, that have been given on this subject, from a book, which I lately read, en titled, The Advantages of a Temperate Life. " The author of this book was a Venetian gentleman, of noble extraction, whose name was Lewis Cornaro. He tells us, that, from the foolish and vicious intemperance of his youth, he had brought on himself a complica tion of disorders; and that, from his thirty- fifth to his fortieth year, he spent his days and nights in 'the utmost anxiety and pain; and that his life was a burden to him. The CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 141 physicians, however, told him, after many fruitless efforts to restore his health, that it re mained with himself to make one more trial, which, if he could prevail on himself to per severe in, might, in time, free him from all his complaints. This was to abandon his former habits, and adopt a temperate and regular way of living. But they added, that unless their advice were followed immediately, his case would soon become desperate. After many struggles with his former inclinations, he at last grew confirmed in a settled and uninterrupted course of temperance; by vir tue of which, as he assures us, all his disorders had left him in less than a year, and he had been a firm and healthy man from thence for ward, till the time he wrote this treatise; this was in his eightieth year, and he lived to give a third and fourth edition of it; and, after ha ving passed his hundredth year, died without pain or agony, and like one who falls asleep." "The sentiments of the illustrious Socrates, as recorded by the amiable Xenophon," said Sir Hubert, " may serve to guide our arguments and opinions on this subject. * Temperance,' says he, ' is that virtue, which places both the body and the mind in their full state of per- 142 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE, fection, and qualifies a man both for the know ledge and the practice of his duty: enables him to govern his family with prudence, to serve his country and his friends in the most ef< fectual manner, and to defeat the malice of his enemies. The very consciousness of thus con forming to the dictates of nature, and qualify ing ourselves to be useful members of society, must afford us a pleasure, which can never be felt by the stupid voluptuary; who is so en gaged in the pursuit of imaginary gratifica tions, that he is never at liberty to perform a commendable action. Intemperance, though it may promise pleasure, can never bestow it; for true pleasure is only in the gift of Tem perance.' Thus far this wise and amiable man. To show the danger of intemperance, the Catholic legends tell us of some hermit, to whom the devil gave the choice of three crimes; two of them of the most atrocious kind, and the other to be drunk. The poor saint chose the last, as the least of the three; but, when drunk, he committed the other two." '* What an excellent and striking apologue!" cried Edmund. " But I really think we shall not have much to say in favour of our heroes ; CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 145 for, after all, I do not see any great merit in not being a glutton. I cannot help laugh ing, though, to find, that the ladies have not been able to produce a single instance of a temperate woman; which, I suppose, they would have done, for the honour of the sex, if any had been recorded." " There was no need to do this," answered Emily, with vivacity; "because women are so temperate, that one could not be selected for example, without doing injustice to the rest; while the men are generally so intem perate, that those we have mentioned are only exceptions to the general rule." The party laughed at the quickness of Emily's repartee ; and George added, " I am afraid, Emily, your remark is not perfectly correct, at least with respect to the ancients." " Oh! I am not defending the cause of the ancients, you know," said the lively girl: " but what, were the ladies of old accustomed to get tipsy?" " -We may conclude so," replied George, " from some curious laws that were made on the subject at Athens; and at Rome, one of their chief men beat his wife to death, because he caught her drinking out of the wine barrel: and Cato, the censor, is said to have in trod u- 144 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. ced the custom of persons kissing ladies, when they met them, or paid them a visit, to dis cover by their breath, whether they had been tipling. But come, Charles, have you no thing in praise of Alexander's temperance?" " No, I really am of Edmund's opinion ; I should not think much better of myself, be cause I gave the best peach or nectarine in the garden to Emily or Jane. Besides, the temperance of Alexander does not seem to have been very deeply rooted; for he forgot all the lessons of Leonidas, and died in a de bauch." " I cannot consent to think so lightly of the merits of Cyras," said George: " there ap pears to me to be something extremely fas cinating in his manners and conduct at the court of his grandfather." " But this impression," observed Sir Hu bert, " is no doubt to be, in a great measure, attributed to the elegant pen of the simple and classic Xenophon, who, in pourtraying the character of Cyrus, meant to give a repre sentation of a perfectly amiable and accom plished prince." " But surely we may suppose, my dear Sir," rejoined George, " that Xenophon did not select the character of Cyrus for this CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 145 purpose, without good reason; and, however he may have embellished the portrait, the truth of the character is still preserved." "I should not think the conduct of Age- silaus very singular," said Edmund, "in dis tributing the luxuries presented to him by the Thasians among his slaves, because tern* perance was the virtue of all the Spartans, and formed a principal part of their educa tion. If I recollect rightly, to give them an early abhorrence to wine, their mothers used to offer them cups of it, in which were put live snakes; and to impress them more strongly with a disgust for drunkenness, at certain times they intoxicated their slaves, the poor Helots, and in that state exhibited them to their children. But when Agesilau* rejected these presents, the Lacedaemonians were at war, and then the soldiers were al lowed to indulge in every sort of luxury. So I cannot but think, that, in this case, the good king showed that his was a real love of temperance; when, if he had indulged in luxury, it would only have been following the custom of his country." "Very ably argued, Edmund, upon my word," said Lady Arborfield; and you have o 14(3 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. displayed more historical knowledge than I thought you were master of." " Your story of Socrates, papa," said Emily, " diverts me exceedingly. I cannot help fancying I see him throwing away his pitcher of water; I suppose he took pretty good care not to break his pitcher, or else his terrible wife, Xantippe, might perhaps have broken his head." "You are very merry to-night, Emily," said Edmund, laughing heartily with the rest at her strange idea; " but you should not joke upon the misfortunes of poor Socrates, especially as he bore them so patiently. His temperance seems to have been very great," continued he, "since it preserved him from the effects of the plague, by which so many suffered. But as to his throwing away the water, I think I am as great a philosopher, or greater than he; for you know that, in summer time, when I am warm, if I am ready to die with thirst, I always hold the glass of water some minutes in my hand before I taste a drop; and, I am sure, this is a great trial of patience indeed." "This is a very good method," observed Lady Arhorfield, " to prevent the ill effects that would arise from drinking perfectly cold CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 147 water, when you are violently heated. By holding it in your hand the water becomes warmer, while you grow ' proportionably cooler; so that, by this means, almost an equal temperature is produced between your blood and the water." " Temperance," said Jane, " was only one among the many virtues which distinguished the illustrious Sully; but, like all the rest, it attended him in all situations, and on" all occasions. . No temptations, no example, could induce him to depart from it; and, if a strict perseverance in the practice of any virtue can give a claim to eminence, to this the virtuous Sully is certainly entitled." " Oh, you must not think of ranking him above my hero!" said Emily. " Consider, there is more merit in leaving off bad habits, than in persevering in good ones." " If the motive be a good one," replied Jane. " But you say that Charles made Alexander and Caesar his models, and that it was from the moment that he prepared for war that he gave up his luxurious course of life. This shows that it was not from a love of the virtue itself, but because he found, by the example of Caesar and Alexander, that it would be useful to him in executing the 148 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. plans he meditated. My uncle will correct me if I am wrong; but, I believe, that it was the intention of Charles to conquer and en slave the world ; and that he was scarcely any thing else but a brave madman; and, indeed, it is supposed that his own soldiers killed him, convinced that neither their own coun try, nor any other in Europe, would remain tranquil or happy while he lived. While such were his motives, we must not give him credit for his actions, or the virtues which he may appear to possess." "You have no reason, my dear Jane,!' said Sir Hubert, " to apprehend correction from me. I am rather at a loss to express sufficiently to you, the satisfaction which I feel in the truth and acuteness of your reflec tions. Poor Emily's hero will certainly not obtain the palm to-night; and, my lady will excuse me, if I say, that Lewis Cornaro seems rather to have acted from necessity than principle. He was, indeed, a fortunate instance of the benefits resulting from a tem perate life; and at length, perhaps, became so attached to it, that he would not, even if he could have done it with safety, have re turned again to luxury. The question seems to rest then between Cyrus and Sully, and J CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 149 am inclined to adjudge it in favour of the latter; for, though it Avas inconsistent Avith the plan of Xenophon to mention it, AVC learn from other historians, that Cyrus himself, for political purposes) introduced, at length, every species of excess Avhich could add mag nificence to royalty, and sowed the first seeds of that luxury, which soon overspread and cor rupted the whole Persian empire," 3 150- CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. ON Sunday evening our good friends at Holly Hall had very properly chosen reli gion for the subject of their conversation; and Sir Hubert prefaced his story with the few following remarks : " I was happy to see you were not sur prised at my proposing religion for the sub ject of our amusement. Nothing can be more injurious to the cause of religion, than to represent it as an enemy to mirth and cheerfulness. It is not its intention to extir pate the affections of the mind, but to regu late them. " Religion is such a sense of God on the oul, and such a conviction of our obligations to him, and dependance upon him, as should engage us to make it our principal study to do always that which we think will be plea- ing to him, and to avoid every thing which we think will offend him. "We may confidently affirm, that reli- CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 151 gion is natural to man, even in the most un enlightened state ; nations, that never were favoured with the knowledge of it by revela tion, have, nevertheless, a belief, that there is a Being, who rewards good men and punishes the wicked. That the greatest and wisest of men, in all ages and countries, felt and ac knowledged the presiding influence of a Su preme Power, I hope we shall be able to produce sufficient examples to show. "Agesilaus, king of Sparta, was, on all occasions, distinguished by his particular ve neration for the gods. The noblest circum stance of his victory over the Athenians and Boeotians, at Chceronea, was his sacrificing his resentment to the honour of religion; for a considerable number of the flying enemy ha ving thrown themselves into the temple of Minerva, and application being made to him, to know in what manner they should be treated, he gave strict orders that none of them should be touched, though he then la boured under the anguish of several wounds he had received in the action, and was visi bly exasperated at the opposition he had met. But his veneration was not confined to the temples of the Greeks. When he 152 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. made war upon the barbarians, he was equal ly careful not to profane the images of their deities, nor offer the least violation to their altars." A "I will," said Edmund, " relate an instance of the singular interference of Providence, which is recorded by Jane's favourite author, Plutarch. "The brave Timoleon, the glory of Co rinth, was the most pious of men: nothing boastful or vain-glorious disgraced his lips. On the contrary, when he heard his praises re sounded from street to street, and from city to city, he only replied, 'that he rendered his most humble thanks to the gods, that, when they had decreed to rescue his country from the usurpation of tyrants, they condescended to make him the happy instrument;' for he was of opinion, that all human occurrences are conducted by the influence of heaven. He had in his house a private chapel, in which he constantly paid his devotions to the goddess who represented Providence. To re ward his piety, he was wonderfully protected by the deity, in several instances of his life, but particularly in the following : CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIHE. 153 " Three persons had entered into a con spiracy to assassinate him, as he was offering up his devotions in a public temple. To exe cute their horrid plan, they took their sev^ra.1 stands, in the most convenient places for their purpose, intending afterwards to conceal themselves, by mixing in the crowd, which stood about him; but, while they were watch ing for an opportunity, a stranger suddenly fell upon one of them, and stabbed him to the heart. The other two conspirators, conclu ding from this, that their plot had been disco vered, and measures taken to prevent the ex ecution of it, instantly threw themselves at Timoleon's feet, and confessed the whole af fair. This stranger, upon examination, wai found to. have known nothing of their design; but having, several years before, had a brother killed by the conspirator he had now dis- pathed, and having long waited for an oppor tunity of revenge, he at last discovered him in : :empie, where he had planted himself for the viilanous purpose of depriving the good Timoleon of life." Plutarch concludes his account of this transaction in a pious rap ture on the watchful care of Providence; which, in this instance, had so ordained it, that the stranger should BO many years be 154 CHTIISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. debarred the means of doing justice to his brother, till, by the same blow that revenged the death of one innocent man, he preserved the life of another.. "Though Plutarch is generally accused," remarked Sir Hubert, "of being weakly su perstitious, I do not think he can be thought so in this instance; as the same reflection, I should conceive, would naturally occur to every pious mind." " You have told me, Sir," said Charles, " that I should not give credit to relations of supernatural appearances; yet, as the circum stance, which, I confess, has made a great im pression on my mind, is told of a very religious man, by the great and good Cicero, I hope I shall not offend you by relating it." " When King Hiero asked Simonides, the famous poet, what he thought of the Deity, he requested a day to consider of it. When that was expired, he requested two days more; and still, as the question was repeated, he demanded double the time. This evasion exciting the king's curiosity, he, at length, de sired to know the reason of it. * Sire,' replied the venerable bard, ' the subject is so incom- CHRISTMAS FIKE-SIDE. 155 prehensible, that the longer I consider it, the more I am lost!' In his poems, -this pious man exerted all the powers of his genius, to celebrate the praises of the gods. "Having agreed to compose a panegyric for a Greeian champion, who had lately won a prize, he wrote a poem, in which he introduced the praises of Castor and Pollux, two inferior deities, who had formerly distinguished them selves in the same kind of exercises. The champion, though he could not help com mending the poem, paid him but one-third of the price which he had promised him; and, when the poet demanded the rest, he answer ed, ' You must apply to the two gods for their share, to whom you have given two-thirds of the praise that you ought to have given to to me : but, that you may not imagine that I resent your partiality, I insist upon your company to supper.' Though Simonides was sensible that he had been defrauded, he re solved rather to suppress his indignation, than give offence to his new patron. He, there fore, accepted his invitation. In the midst of the entertainment, two beautiful young men, of more than human form, appeared at the gate, and requested that Simonides might be informed, that two strangers requested to 15(5 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE, see him immediately, on some particular bu siness. The servant did as he was desired; but Simonides had scarcely stepped out of the dining-room, before the roof fell in, and buried all the rest of the company under the ruins. As no young men were afterwards found at the gate, it was universally concluded, that the two strangers were the deities, who had been celebrated by the poet; and that they had taken this method to reward his piety, and recompense the loss, which he had sus tained by the injustice of the champion." Sir Hubert smiled at the recollection of what he had said to Charles, when he had proposed to tell the story of a ghost, on the first evening; but he forbore all comment for the present, and George took up the subject thus: "When the Gauls, after making them* selves masters of Rome, were besieging the capitol, and taking every precaution to pre- Tent a single citizen from escaping, a pious young Roman attracted the universal admira tion, both of his fellow-citizens and of the enemy. It was the stated custom of the Fabii, one of the most illustrious families in Rome, CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 157 to offer an annual sacrifice upon the Qui- rinal hill. For this purpose, Caius Fabius Dorso, whichvwas the name of the young and devout hero, descended from the capitol, with the sacred utensils in his hands, marched through the midst of the enemy, and reached the hill in safety. A fter he had finished the sa crifice, he returned by the same road he went, and with the same intrepidity in his air and countenance, not doubting but the gods, whose honour he had thus been celebrating, at the hazard of his life, would be his guardians and protectors. His hopes were not disappointed; for he passed through the enemy's camp, and rejoined his countrymen in the capitol, with out having received the least injury; the Gauls, it is supposed, being either stupified with astonishment at such a prodigy of youth ful valour, or disarmed by the force of reli gion." " Indeed," said Edmund, " I think this young Roman deserved a public triumph, on this occasion, as much as any general amongst them, as he certainly evinced greater courage than it was possible they should, and his mo tive far excelled any that the best of them could ever make pretence to." p 158 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. " He assuredly deserved such a distinction, Edmund," said Sir Hubert, " but, as true piety is always accompanied by humility, I do not doubt but it would have been declined by the pious ytfung hero. All these were heathens,'* continued he, " who had nothing but the light of natural religion to guide their piety; I should suppose it will not be difficult to find, among those who have had the ad vantage of revelation, a degree of devotion as much more exemplary as their object is more defined." " It would certainly be easy," replied Lady Arborfield, " to produce a long list of persons who have been persecuted, and suffered the most excruciating tortures, and even death, for the sake of the Christian religion; but, as true devotion consists more in a regular per formance of our duty, and a perfect resigna tion to the will of the Deity, than in violent sacrifices, I shall repeat what has been re lated of the virtuous Addison; which, though not rendered so interesting by its striking in cident, as those anecdotes, with which you have favoured us, does him no less credit for his piety. " This good man, after a long and manly, CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDB. 150 but fruitless struggle with the distemper of which he died, dismissed his physicians, and with them all hopes of life. He dismissed not, however, his concern for the living; but sent for the young Lord Warwick, a youth, nearly related to him, and finely accomplished, yet not above being the better for good impres sions from a dying friend. He came; but life was now glimmering in the socket, the dying friend was silent. After a decent and proper pause, the youth said, * Dear Sir, you sent for me, I believe, and I hope you have some com mands; be assured, I shall hold them most sacred.' May distant ages not only hear, but feel the reply! Forcibly grasping the young nobleman's hand, he softly said, ' See in what peace a Christian can die!' He spoke with difficulty, and soon after expired." " That truly pious man, Dr. Young, whose words I quote on this occasion, con cludes with these devout and just reflections: ' Through divine grace, how great is man ! through divine mercy, how stinglessis death!' who would not thus expire?" __/ " My story is equally simple," said Emily. 160 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. " M. du Fresne took occasion one day to remark to Louis XIV. that he did not appear to be sufficiently cautious in the liberty, which he gave to every one to approach his person; and more particularly when he was at war with a people, the Dutch, who were irritated against him, and were capable of at tempting any thing. 'I have received, Sir,' said Louis, *a great many hints like this; in short, if I were capable of taking them, my life would not be worth having; it is in the hands of God, he will dispose of it as he pleases; and, therefore, I do not presume to make the least alteration in my conduct.' " " We must lament," said Sir Hubert, *' that this great monarch did not regulate all his actions by such sentiments. If he had, this advice of his friends had been unneces sary; for then so many people would not have had just reason to wish his death. It is indeed said, that, before he died, he was himself convinced of the folly of his life, and wished that he could live it over again, to plant the olive of peace where he had spread the flames of war." " You will not, I believe, my dear uncle," said Jane, " be able to make the same objec- CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 1(51 tion to" the king, of whom I mean to speak; for he fought for the liberty of his subjects, and not for the purpose of enslaving others." " Gustavus Adolphus, of Sweden, united, with the virtues which adorned his character, the most exemplary piety. Among the many- instances of which, it is related of him, that once, when he was in his camp before Wer- ben, he had been alone in the cabinet of his pavilion for some hours; and, on these occa sions, none of his attendants durst interrupt him. At length, however, a favourite of his, urged by some important business which he had to communicate to him, came softly to the door, and, looking in, he beheld the king, in the most devout attitude, at his prayers. Fearing to interrupt him in this sacred em ployment, he withdrew his head, and would have retired; but his royal master, who had seen him, bid him come in, saying, ' Thou wonderest to see me in this posture, since I have so many subjects to pray for me; but I tell thee, that no man has more need to pray for himself than he, who being to render an account of his actions to none but God, is, for that reason, more closely assaulted by the P3 162 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. devil than all other men beside.' He could not bear to receive that homage which he conceived due only to the Deity; for, when the town of Landshut, in Bavaria, surrendered to him at discretion, and the principal inha bitants fell on their knees, to present him the keys of their town, 'Rise, rise,' said he; ' it is your duty to fall upon your knees to God, and not to so frail and feeble a mortal as I am.' And as he would not receive, so neither would he pay, earthly homage. In a treaty between Louis XIII. of France, and Gustavus, the ministers of the former were desirous of insisting that the king of France had the king of Sweden under his protection. Gustavus replied: 'I have no occasion for any protection but that of God, and I desire no other. After God I acknowledge no su perior; and I wish to owe the success of my arms to my sword and my good conduct alone.' It was one of the maxims of this pious monarch, that a man made a better soldier in proportion to his being a better Christian." '* Gustavus was, indeed," said Sir Hubert, " one of those superior mortals that appear, once in an age, to show men of what perfec- CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. tion human nature is capable. He was a patriot king; the very soul of honour, as brave as pious, and as merciful as brave." " Oh, my dear Sir!" said Edmund, " after this panegyric upon Gustavus, what expecta tion can we have of obtaining the victory for our heroes. I suppose we had better give up the contest at once." "Oh no, by no means!" replied Sir Hu bert; "and, in the first place, therefore, let us hear your comment on the conduct of Agesilaus." "I do not perceive," said George, "but that Agesilaus had a perfect sense of religion, and did not forget it under any circumstances. Neither the prospect of advantage, nor re venge, could stifle it in his bosom; nor was he bigotted to one particular form of worship; for he treated the altars of barbarians with as much reverence as those of the gods he wor shipped himself." " What can I say for Timoleon," said Edmund, " more than is said by Plutarch. He speaks expressly of his piety, of his pri vate chapel, where he performed his devo tions constantly in secret ; the greatest proof of his sincerity. And his piety was well* known to his countrymen, since the assassins, 164 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. who sought to murder him, selected a place of worship for their purpose, well knowing that he would come there, and that his thoughts would be so entirely engrossed by the divinity, that he would be off his guard." " You smiled, my dear Sir," said Charles, " at my story of Simonides and his two gods. I suppose you thought, as Simonides was a poet, the whole was a poetical invention." " I smiled, Charles, at the recollection of your love for the marvellous. It is a very pretty story, and well calculated to impress a belief in Providence; but, as you imagine, there is more of poetry, I suspect, than of truth in it. The answer of Simonides, however, to the king, on the nature of the divinity, shows how justly he had reflected on the subject." " Which ought I to praise most," said George, " the pious intrepidity of young Fabius, or the religious forbearance of the Gauls? Which showed most reverence for the Deity, he who dared to pass alone through a band of enraged barbarians, or they, who suffered him to pass, they, who had sworn the death of every other Roman?" " Young Fabius, certainly," said Emily, " is most to be admired, because it is certain- Jy more admirable to do a noble action than CHJIISTMAS FIEE-SII>E. 165 not to do a base one; and how base, and how inhuman, would it have been in the Gauls, if they had offered any violence to this brave youth, when he was on so pious an errand." " I thank you, Emily," replied George, " for having so well expressed my own ideas upon the subject. Fabius was the worthy sou of a house of heroes." " The nature of my story does not admit much of comment," said Lady Arborfield. " The whole tenor of Addison's life was vir tuous; this we know from others, but we know it best from himself. His death bed was illuminated by hope; and though the most modest of men, he confidently expressed his reliance on the mercy and goodness of his God." " Papa does not seem inclined," said Emily, " to admit Louis XIV. among sincere Christians; I am sure, therefore, I will not presume to undertake his defence." " You mistake me, Emily; I did not mean to say, that Louis was not sincere at last. It would be uncharitable to suppose that he affected what he did not feel; but his whole soul was engrossed by ambition, and it was only when he had exhausted all the fuel which supplied this passion, that he fled to 166 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDB. religion as a resource against the tediousness of a listless existence." "You have praised Gustavus so liberally, my dear uncle/' said Jane, " that any thing which I could add would only weaken the effect of what you have been kind enough to say." " You do yourself injustice," replied the worthy baronet; "but we will not trouble you, as our minds are sufficiently impressed with the merits of the great Gustavus. And now, I must confess, that a task of consider able difficulty and delicacy devolves on me; and this is occasioned chiefly by the necessity of taking into consideration the diiferent ob jects of devotion. Indeed, all comparison between the ancients and moderns, in this respect, is impossible, except on the broad ground of natural religion; for, if we take revelation into the question, we must ex clude the ancients, or we shall judge them unfairly. On so serious a subject I would rather not come to any particular decision. If the ancients made good use of the light of natural religion, the moderns do not seem to have profited less by the brighter beams of Christianity." CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 1G7 " As our company arrive to-morrow," said Sir Hubert, when the party were assembled on Monday evening, " and this is, conse quently, the last night that we shall be able to pursue our present mode of amusement, it is not without reason that we have selected honour for our theme; for honour may be said to be the refinement of virtue. It is that polish, which gives lustre to all other good qualities; and a man cannot be said to be truly honourable, who is absolutely deficient in any virtue." '* The deputies of Philip, king of Macedon, offering great sums of money, in that prince's name, to Phocion, the Athenian, and entreat ing him to accept them, if not for himself, at least for his children, who were in such cir cumstances that it would be impossible for them to support the glory of his name, * If they resemble me,' said Phocion, ' the littl 168 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. spot of ground, on the produce of which I have hitherto lived, and which has raised me to the glory you mention, will be sufficient to maintain them; if it will not, I do not intend to have them wealthy merely to foment and heighten their luxury. '* After this, Alexander the Great, the son of Philip, having sent him a hundred ta lents, Phocion asked those who brought them, upon what design Alexander had sent him so great a sum, while he did not remit any to the rest of the Athenians. ' It is,' replied they, ' because Alexander looks upon you as the most just and virtuous man.' Then answered Phocion, ' let him suffer me still to enjoy that character, and be really what I am taken for.' " " It is a pity," said George, " that he could not inspire his countrymen with such sentiments of honour, he would then have *pared them the reproach of being taught it by one whom they styled a barbarian." " Demetrius Poliorcetes, who had per formed great services for the city of Athens, on setting out for a war in which he was en gaged, left his wife and children to the pro- CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 1(59 tectibn of the Athenians. His army was en tirely defeated, and it was with great diffi culty that he saved himself, by flight, from falling into the hands of his enemies. He did not doubt, however, but that he should find a safe asylum among his good friends, the Athenians; but those ungrateful men refused to receive him, and even sent back to him his wife and children, under pretence that they might probably not be safe in Athens, where the enemy might come and take them. This conduct pierced the heart of Demetrius; for nothing is so affecting to an honourable mind as the ingratitude of those we love, and on whom we have conferred obligations. " Some time afterwards Demetrius reco vered his affairs, and came with a large army to lay siege to Athens. The Athenians, per suaded that they had no pardon to expect from Demetrius, determined to die sword in hand; and passed a decree, which condemned to death those who should first propose to surrender to that prince; but they did not recollect, that there was but little corn in the city, and that they would, in a short time, be in want of bread. Want soon made them sensible of their error; and after having suf fered hunger for a long time, they began to 170 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. say, ' It would be better that Demetrius should kill us at once, than for us to die by the lingering torments of famine; perhaps he will have pity on our wives and children.' They then opened to him the gates of the city. " Demetrius, having taken possession of the city, ordered that all the married men should assemble in a spacious place appointed for the purpose; and that the soldiery, sw.ord in hand, should surround them. Cries and lamentations were then heard from every quarter of the city; women embracing their husbands, children their parents, and all ta king an eternal farewell of each other. o "When the married men were all thus collected, Demetrius, from an elevated situ ation, reproached them for their ingratitude in such a feeling manner and pathetic terms, that he himself could not help shedding tears. He then, for some time, remained silent; while the Athenians expected that the next word he uttered would be, to order his soldiers to massacre them all. " It is hardly possible to imagine their surprise, when they heard that good prince say, * I wish to convince you how ungene rously you have treated me; for it was not to CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 171 an enemy you refused assistance, but to a prince who loved you, who still loves you, and who wishes to revenge himself only by granting your pardon, and by being still your friend. Return to your own homes: while you have been here, my soldiers have been filling your houses with provisions!" " To those who had any feeling," said Edmund, " this kindness of Demetrius must have been almost worse than death." " I am afraid they could not feel it as they ought," replied Emily; "or they would not, have behaved so ungratefully at first." "I believe you are right, Emily," observed Lady Arborfield; for ingratitude, when it has once taken possession of the heart, excludes every generous sentiment, and engrosses it en tirely." " There is a very pretty story," said Ed mund, " which I read lately in Caesar's Com mentaries. It is a curious sort of challenge, and shows how differently the Romans settled their honourable disputes to what we do now- a-days." "Two centurions, of high rank, Titus Pul- fio and Lucius Varenus, had long disputed, 172 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. with great animosity, which was the braver man, or most worthy of preferment. They served under Caesar in Gaul; and once, when his camp was assaulted by the enemy, in the heat of the attack, Pulfio cried aloud, Why should you remain in doubt, Varenus? What better opportunity can you desire to prove your boasted valour? This, this shall be the day to decide our controversies.' He then im mediately sallied from the camp, and rushed upon the enemy. Varenus followed his rival, who, with his javelin, had already slain the first of the Gauls that engaged him; but being attacked by a shower of darts, one of them pierced his shield, and stuck in his belt in such a manner as prevented him from drawing his sword. The enemy immediately surrounded him, thus encumbered and un able to defend himself. At this instant, when he must have fallen beneath their swords, Varenus, perceiving his danger, flew to his assistance, slew one, and drove the rest before him; but, pursuing them too eagerly, he step ped into a hole, and fell down. Pullio, who had now disencumbered himself from the dart, and drawn his sword, came very season ably to the rescue of Varenus; with whom, after having slain many of the Gauls, he re- CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 173 turned with safety and glory to the camp, arid they continued friends ever afterwards." " Their friendship could not fail to be permanent," said Sir Hubert, " formed on so honourable a basis. Friendship cannot exist unsupported by honour. No confidence can be placed in a man destitute of this principle; and hence it is, that the wicked, in their iniqui tous leagues, are in constant dread of being betrayed by each other." " Many examples of honourable conduct," said Charles, " are to be found in the histery of the Romans, so that one is almost at a loss which to select. Indeed it has been observed, that the reputation of the Romans for equity, humanity, clemency, and constancy to their en gagements, contributed more than any thing besides to make their empire so extensive and powerful. But, with the following instance of honour and justice, I have always been particularly pleased/' '* The Falisci, a Grecian colony, settled in Italy, had attacked the Romans without provocation, who instantly denounced war against them, and intrusted the conduct of it to their dictator, Camillus. He immediately 17-1 CHRISTMAS FJKE-S1DK. besieged their principal city, surrounding it with trenches, so as to cut ofl' all communica tion with the country; but leaving a consi derable space between them and the walls. It seems the Falisci had brought with them from Greece the custom of intrusting the edu cation of all their children to the care of one man, called the pedagogue The children were accustomed to walk with their master without the walls of the city; and, as the Roman camp was at a considerable distance, it was not thought necessary to discontinue their exercise. But the present pedagogue proved a traitor. He at first led his pupils only along the walls; then he carried them a little farther; and, at length, when a favourable opportunity offered, he led them through the guards of the Roman camp quite to the gene ral's tent. As they were the children of the best families in the place, their treacherous leader, when he came into Camillus's pre sence, addressed him thus: 'With these children I deliver the place you besiege into your hands; they were committed to my care and tuition; but I prefer the friendship of Rome to my employment at Falerii.' Camil- lus was struck with horror at the treachery; and looking at him with a menacing air, * Traitor!' CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 175 said he, * you do not address yourself, with your impious present, either to a general or a people that resemble you. We have, indeed, no express and formal alliance with the Fa- lisci; but that which nature has established between all men, does, and shall subsist be tween us. War has its rights as well as peace; and we have learned to make it with no less justice than valour. We are in arms, not against an age which is spared even in cities taken by assault, but against men armed like ourselves; men who, without any pre vious injury from us, attacked the Roman camp at Veii. Thou, to the utmost of thy power, hast imitated them by a new and dif ferent sort of crime; but, for me, I shall con quer, as at Veii, by Roman arts, by valour, works, and perseverance.' " The traitor was not dismissed with this reprimand only; Camillus caused him to be stripped, and to have his hands tied behind him; and, arming the young scholars with rods, he ordered them to drive him back into the city, and to scourge him all the way; which no doubt they did with a good will. " At this sight the Falisci, who had been inconsolable for the loss of their children, raised cries of joy; they were charmed to such 176 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. a 'degree, with so uncommon an example of justice and .honour, that, in an instant, they entirely changed their disposition in respect to the Romans, and resolved that moment to have a peace with such generous enemies. Accordingly they sent deputies, first to the camp, and afterwards to Rome; where, when they had audience of the senate, they ad dressed themselves to it in these terms: * Il lustrious fathers, conquered by you and your general, in a manner that can give no offence to gods or men, we are come to surrender ourselves to you; and we assure ourselves, than which nothing can be more glorious for victors, that we shall live happier under your government than under our own laws. The event of this war has brought forth two excel lent examples for mankind. You, fathers, have preferred justice to immediate conquest; and we, excited by that justice and honour which we admire, voluntarily present you the victory." " Where could this contemptible peda gogue," said Emily, "hide his shame? for I suppose the Falisci despised him too much to put him to death." "I do not recollect," replied Charles, " whether it is mentioned how he was pu- CHItlSTMAS FIHE-SIDE. 1?? iiished ; though, I think, the greatest punish ment that could be inflicted on him, would be to suffer him to live; for, where could he hide himself from scorn; or whither could he fly from detestation and contempt? ' " The story you have told us," said Lady Arborfield, " proves the truth of the observa tion, with which you introduced it. I do not doubt, however, to convince you, that the sense of honour has not declined in modern times ; and the Spaniards are particularly dij>~ tinguished for it." " In the year 1746, when, as you recollect, we were at war with Spain, a merchant ship of London, richly laden, coming through the Gulf from Jamaica, encountered a most violent Btorm; aud, springing a leak, was forced to run into the Havannah, a Spanish port, to save the lives of the crew. The captain went on shore, and immediately waited on the go vernor; and telling him the occasion, that had forced him to seek shelter in the port, offered to surrender the ship as a prize, and himself and men as prisoners of war, requesting only good treatment. * No, Sir,' replied the Spanish governor: * if we had taken you in fair war, at sea, or approaching our coast with hostile in- 178 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. tentions, your ship would then have been a prize, and your people prisoners; but when, distressed by a tempest, you come into our ports for the safety of your lives, though we are your enemies, we are men, and as such, are bound by the laws of humanity, to afford relief to distressed men, who ask it of us. We cannot, even against our enemies, take advantage of an act of God. You have leave, therefore, to unload your ship, if that be ne cessary, to stop the leak; you may refit her here, and traffic so far as shall be necessary to pay the charges; you may then depart, and I will give you a pass, to be in 'force till you are beyond Bermuda; if, after that, you are taken, you will then be a lawful prize; but now, you are only a stranger, and have a stranger'e right to safety and protection.' The ship, after repairing her damages, accordingly, de parted, and arrved safe in the Thames." " This honourable spirit," said Emily, "which so much distinguishes the Spaniards, was brought into Spain, I have read, by the Moors, and I remember a very interesting story on the subject. "A Spanish cavalier, in a sudden quarrel, CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. 179 slew a Moorish gentleman, ami fled. His pur suers soon lost sight of him, for he had, un- perceived by them, leapt over a garden wall. The owner, a Moor, happened to be walking in his garden; and the Spaniard, falling on his knees, acquainted him with his situation, and implored concealment * Eat this,' said the Moor, giving him half a peach; 'you now know that you may confide in my protection.' He then locked him up in a summer-house, in the garden, promising, as soon as it was night, to provide for his escape to a place of greater security. The Moor then went into the house, where he had scarcely seated him self, when a great crowd, with loud lamenta tions, came to his gate, bearing the corpse of his son, who had just been killed, they said, by a Spaniard. " When the first shock of surprise was a little over, he learnt, from the description given, that the fatal deed was done by the very person then in bis power. He mention ed this to no one; but, as soon as it was dark, retired to his garden, as if to mourn alone; giving orders that none should follow him. Then, accosting the Spaniard, he said, ' Chris tian, the person you have killed is my son his bleeding body now lies in my house. You 180 CHRISTMAS FIRE-SIDE. ought to suffer; but, you have eaten with me, and I have given you my faith, which must not be broken.' He then led the astonished Spaniard to his stables, and mounting him on the fleetest horse he had, ' Fly far,' said he, * while the night can cover you; by day-light you will be beyond the reach of danger. Your hands, indeed t are steeped in the blood of my on, but God is just and good, and I thank him that I am innocent of yours; and, that the faith I gave, I have had sufficient courage to preserve." "What did the Moorish gentleman mean, by giving half the peach, and telling the Spaniard he had eaten with him, and, there fore, saved him?" enquired Edmund. " It is an Eastern custom," replied Lady Arborfield, " which you often find alluded to in the Holy Scriptures; and, which is preserved, in those countries, even to this day. 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